Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Question No. 188 of 14 February 2006, if he will make a statement on the meetings his officials and predecessor had with a company (details supplied); the dates of such meetings; the agenda of such meetings; and the topics discussed and actions taken subsequently by his Department. [9464/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's files indicate that officials of the Department met two representatives of Indaver Ireland on 21 July 2003; that my predecessor, accompanied by officials, met representatives of Indaver Ireland on 28 January 2004 and that officials met representatives of Indaver Ireland on 8 June 2004.

I understand a range of issues were discussed at these meetings, including inter-regional movement of waste, the regional approach to waste management, and the availability of grant assistance for hazardous waste management infrastructure under the regional operational programmes.

My Department and I hold regular consultations with stakeholders in the context of the ongoing implementation of Government policy on waste management. It should not, however, be concluded that either my officials or I undertake any course of action on the basis of discussions with a single stakeholder. Consulting widely, with a range of stakeholders, is designed to ensure that my Department and I have as full as possible an understanding of the issues and concerns of stakeholders and are therefore in a position to address them, where it is possible and appropriate to do so.

There can be no question of any such meetings comprehending matters proper to the physical planning or environmental licensing processes from involvement with which I, and my officials, are precluded.