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

Labhróidh mé ar leasaithe a 4 agus a 11. I will address both amendments together.
These proposals mirror each other with regard to the EPA Act 1992 and the Waste Management Act 1996. They would go beyond the obligations set out under Article 2(4) of the EIA directive and may not meet the objectives or purpose for which the emergency provision is required.
I assure the Deputy that new sections 88D and 44B were drafted following detailed and considered deliberation with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that they are absolutely fully compliant with the requirements of the EIA directive and they reflect a similar-type of provision under section 227 of the Planning and Development Act 2024. All applications for a licence or review of a licence or, indeed, a revised licence are currently placed on the website of the EPA for the public to make submissions within a period of 30 days to the agency. This process will continue and the provisions of the new sections 88D and 44B will not change that. I am more than content that the intent of the Deputy's amendment is dealt within the Bill itself and, indeed, referencing back, to ensure that it is reflective of the provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2024.
As I set out in a bit more detail at committee, on that basis, while fully understanding the intent, I do not propose to accept those amendments.

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:30+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-14