Seanad debates
Thursday, 3 July 2003
Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages.
In regard to the EPA, the powers of local authorities and local elected members were mentioned. I, too, would like to see how this Bill will be operated by the EPA because its responsibilities are enormous. The elected members of local authorities agreed the waste management plans which county managers are now implementing, with very little change. Where councillors identify problems within their own area, it is important that the EPA act as a judge in terms of how the local authority members view the Waste Management Bill and the county manager operates it. We look forward to seeing what happens. County managers have a responsibility to take into account the views of the elected members of local authorities and only a very unwise county man ager would implement something that did not have support in his or her own area.
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