Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

This proposal would delete a provision that was included in section 91(1) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 at the outset. By deleting the words proposed by the Senator, we could be ensuring that a new licence is required every time there is a change of ownership even if there is no change in the operating circumstances of the activity. This seems to be unnecessarily bureaucratic and costly for all concerned, namely, the EPA, the industry and other interested parties. It is important, however, that there is control over to whom the licence is passed, hence the new section 94, which deals with the transfer of licences. The Senator's point may be more fully dealt with in that section. It would not be right, therefore, to accept the proposed amendment.