Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O'Donnell for his comments and welcome them. I understand the concerns that he has. He will accept that it is difficult for me to comment on an individual licence application lest I be accused of interfering in the EPA's independent licensing process. We have to take that on board.

I would also point out that while overall compliance with EPA licences is good, the EPA's office of environmental enforcement introduced a new methodology in 2015 for risk-ranking national priority sites, which takes account of enforcement performance giving a timely, dynamic and accurate picture of what regulatory responses should be directed.

Targeting actions in the right places is also of critical importance to the EPA in addressing the problems in an effective and efficient manner. It is placing a particular focus on any licensed industrial waste and wastewater facilities creating a nuisance for adjacent communities. EPA prosecutions are particularly focused on priority sites. In 2016, the EPA conducted over 1,500 site visits at licensed facilities and 17 prosecutions were pursued. Anyone with concerns in respect of the operations of the Mungret facility should raise them directly with the agency. As the Senator said, people have the opportunity to make submissions as the Senator has done, and to request an oral hearing at which these issues can be aired in public. I would hope that all parties would engage in processes as required and that the concerns of people in the locality will be taken on board in any decision made by the Environmental Protection Agency.