Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 611: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce legislative reform to remove the immunity from prosecution that the Environmental Protection Agency currently enjoys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/12]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he intends acting on the recommendations made in last year's Environmental Protection Agency review group report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26986/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Review Implementation Plan was published on 31 January 2012 and is available on my Department's website www.environ.ie. Implementation of the recommendations is under way. The plan contains a list of actions arising from the review, some of which are a matter for my Department and others which are the responsibility of the EPA and others. I have prioritised a large number of actions for implementation in 2012, while others will be considered over a longer period as they will require detailed consultation and possibly primary legislation. Details of the expected timeframes for the implementation of individual recommendations are set out in the implementation plan.

The review recommended that immunity from prosecution, as applicable to the EPA in carrying out its functions, be reconsidered. As set out in the implementation plan, I propose to consider this issue, which is likely would require primary legislation if it is decided to progress it, in the latter half of 2013.