Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 376: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce procedures to the Environmental Protection Authority to investigate under its authority farms which are suspected of being affected by industrial pollution. [24204/07]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce measures to deal with the situation where an industrial plant affects the surrounding environment whereby the operators are forced to take preventative measures to stop the effects on the environment. [24205/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together.

Under the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 and 2003, activities that have potential for significant environmental pollution are regulated by means of integrated licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control licensing is a function of the EPA and I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to performance in particular circumstances by the Agency of a function assigned to it. It is a matter for the Agency to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place for compliance monitoring in respect of relevant activities, and to take enforcement action, as appropriate.

In accordance with its statutory functions, the Agency is also responsible for general monitoring of the quality of the environment and it may investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding any incident of environmental pollution. A Protocol for the Investigative Approach to Serious Animal/Human Health Problems was prepared by the Agency, in collaboration with other agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Teagasc and the then Health Boards to investigate environmental/ human health/animal health problems. That Protocol outlines the procedures to be adopted by the relevant agencies. A copy of the Protocol is available in the Oireachtas Library.