Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Report and Final Stages
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-14
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Darragh O'Brien (FF), Dublin Fingal East

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na leasaithe.
We had good discussion on these on Committee Stage. The proposals mirror each other regarding the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996. They both concern the laying of orders made by the Minister under both Houses, setting timelines of six months on such orders, as the Deputy outlined. Section 7 of the Act of 1992 and the new section 44C of the Waste Management Act of 1996 already provide for the laying of such orders before each House of the Oireachtas.
With regard to the proposal to place a time limit of six months on the orders, we genuinely do not believe that would be appropriate. The new section 88C transposes Article 1(3) of the environmental impact assessment, EIA, directive into the 1992 Act and reflects a similar-type provision under section 228 of the Planning and Development Act 2024.
Where the activity is for the sole purpose of the defence of the State - we had a good debate on this at committee - or, indeed, responding to a civil emergency, it is considered that the appropriate place for a time limit of such an order, if required, would be within the order itself to which the emergency relates rather than in the specific Act.
A section 44C order made under the Waste Management Act 1996 simply removes the proposed determination stage of the licensing process and could only be applied in limited circumstances. I assure the Deputy that where an accident or emergency is associated with the licence application, a time limit on that type of order is not required. Therefore, as I set out at the committee, and I say this respectfully, I do not propose to accept either amendment.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:30+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-14