Written answers

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Waste Management

9:00 pm

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the agreement with Northern Ireland on repatriation of waste; the money to be spent by him on this agreement; the steps which will be taken by him to implement the agreement; the timescale for the implementation of the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25078/09]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A framework agreement has been reached between Northern Ireland and the State, drawing on the provisions for competent authority co-operation when a waste shipment is illegal under the EU Waste Shipments Regulation, which provides a template for dealing with this historical legacy. Initially, two sites will be dealt with involving some 14,000 tons of waste and estimated costs of some €3 million. It is not possible to estimate the costs for remaining sites until they have been examined and it will take several years to complete the repatriation.

Under the agreement the costs of disposing of the waste will be met by the Irish Government together with 80% of the costs of removing the waste from Northern Ireland. The framework itself derives from a road map agreed by both jurisdictions in relation to co-operation in dealing with illegal waste movements, both current and historical, which was endorsed by Ministers from both jurisdictions in October 2007 and by the European Commission.

My Department and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland are maintaining close contacts to ensure that the relevant competent authorities in both jurisdictions are fully supported in the discharge of their statutory functions.

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