Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 258: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make public the results of an investigation into a 2003 deal between a factory (details supplied) in County Limerick and the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, under which the factory in question did not have to notify the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board of breaches of its pollution control licence unless it was exceeded by 10%. [38928/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, which is the primary agency dealing with control and enforcement in this area, to ensure that a company fully complies with its licence and operates its plant in a manner that does not damage the water environment.

I am advised that in 1998 Aughinish Alumina Limited was issued with a integrated pollution control licence by the EPA. A condition of that licence, as it relates to discharges to waters, is that Shannon Regional Fisheries Board was to be notified of all emissions that did not comply with the requirements set out in the licence.

When this matter was brought to my attention recently, I asked for a report from Shannon Regional Fisheries Board in the matter. I subsequently learned from the board that the officer with responsibility for monitoring water pollution, who was aware that the EPA was monitoring and had mechanisms in place to deal with minor breaches of the IPC licence, agreed with Aughinish Alumina Limited that the company would only notify him of an emission where it exceeded the conditions of the licence by10%. This arrangement was undertaken without the consent of Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and is not normal procedure and, I am assured by the board, has not taken place in any other case.

I am advised that following an EPA audit of the IPC licence in 2003 the agreement came to light and the EPA instructed the company to implement the conditions of the licence in full, which has been the case since 2003.

The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board was unaware of this informal agreement and does not condone it. Action has been taken, the board assures me, since this matter came to light to ensure that a recurrence cannot take place.