Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-17
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Mark Duffy (FG), Labour Panel

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, to Seanad Éireann. I thank him, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Department for bringing forward this important Bill. I am a member of the joint committee on the environment, where these matters have been discussed at length. Many of the points that have been raised by the Minister of State and in contributions by fellow Senators will be addressed by the Bill if it passes. It is a practical step to modernise and streamline licensing processes without weakening environmental safeguards. It provides greater certainty and predictability in decision-making timelines for industrial emissions, integrated pollution control and waste licences. It also addresses the long-standing delays that have hindered investment in key sectors, as the Minister of State mentioned, such as energy, renewables and low-carbon industries, as well as pharma, food, waste management and intensive agriculture.
IBEC has welcomed this pragmatic Bill, which will be practical both for our environmental credentials and our ambitions to become a low-carbon green economy while also still being an attractive location for investment. That is the balance that this Bill brings. It gives certainty to the private sector while also being strong on our green ambitions. It supports Ireland's climate and circular economy and sustainable development goals by enabling faster and proportionate regulation. I believe it is measured, and business and environmentally friendly. It cuts delays, boosts competitiveness and supports sustainable growth. I urge colleagues to support the Bill.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:38+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-17