Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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158. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the European Union enforcement order requiring the remediation of illegal dumping at Murphy’s Rock, Cork; the actions taken by the State to comply with this order over the past twenty years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49226/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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159. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will set out the compliance obligations on Ireland under European Union environmental law in relation to Murphy’s Rock, Cork, and other similar sites where illegal dumping has occurred; and if he will provide details of the sanctions that could apply in the event of continued non-compliance. [49227/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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160. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has engaged with the European Commission regarding the outstanding remediation of Murphy’s Rock, Cork; the nature of any correspondence between the Commission and the State; and if he will publish this correspondence. [49228/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 159 and 160 together.

Where the European Commission has reason to believe that a Member State has failed to adhere to a European Directive or Regulation, for example the Waste Framework Directive, or has failed to fully transpose such European legislation into national legislation, the Commission may instigate infringement procedures against that Member State.

Such infringement procedures are pursued by the Commission to ensure a Member State takes appropriate steps to rectify the issue(s) identified. Continued non-compliance can eventually result in a financial penalty being imposed on the Member State, either as a lump sum or as a daily payment until the situation has been rectified to the satisfaction of the Commission.

The EU Commission issued Ireland with a Reasoned Opinion, dated 9 July 2004, regarding waste activity at a number of identified sites, including Murphy’s Rock in Cork.

My Department, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities who, under the Waste Management Act, are statutorily responsible for enforcing waste legislation in their functional areas, ensured appropriate steps were taken to rectify the identified issues to the satisfaction of the EU Commission without delay.

In relation to the site referred to by the Deputy, Murphy’s Rock, Cork County Council engaged with the landowner in question to ensure required site remediation, risk assessment, enforcement and regularisation actions took place. Once all identified issues were addressed to the satisfaction of the Council a Waste Facility Permit was issued for the site.

The EU Commission were updated on the status on this site, which formed part of the wider response to the then ongoing C/494/01 case and no further action was required.

My Department has not been informed of any outstanding issues in relation to this site.