Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1196. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if An Bord Pleanála is required to assess potential breaches of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants when considering a company's (details supplied) application to burn waste at its plant in County Limerick. [16639/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Matters pertaining to planning legislation and policy, including the role of An Bord Pleanála, do not fall under my remit as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Queries should be directed to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government or to An Bord Pleanála as appropriate.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1197. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the consequences if industrial plants are found to be in breach of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. [16640/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for granting and enforcing licences for industrial plants. Whether or not an installation needs a licence depends on the activities being carried out on the site and the scale of those activities. These activities and thresholds are defined in legislation. Industrial licences are enforced by the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) of the EPA who conduct environmental inspections which cover all aspects of the environmental effects from the installations licensed by the Agency. Such operations are required to operate to Best Available Techniques (BAT) and are required to comply with BAT reference documents (BREFs) and BAT Conclusions which address certain aspects of the EU’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Where a breach of a licence condition occurs, it is a matter for the Agency to ensure that licensed facilities address any non-compliances and take the necessary corrective actions.  Enforcement actions may be escalated up to and including legal proceedings if necessary.  All monitoring and site inspection reports are published on the EPA website.