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Forum says EPA must get tough on corporate polluters
AN ENVIRONMENTAL lobby group has called for more prosecutions of corporate polluters who flaunt the law
The Irish Environmental Forum, which met yesterday with Environment Minister John Gormley, said it wanted a more hard-hitting approach from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"The main thing is the inaction by the EPA and officials who are not carrying out their duties to protect the environment. We want officials to be held accountable," its secretary Pat Geoghegan said.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL lobby group has called for more prosecutions of corporate polluters who flaunt the law.
The Irish Environmental Forum, which met yesterday with Environment Minister John Gormley, said it wanted a more hard-hitting approach from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"The main thing is the inaction by the EPA and officials who are not carrying out their duties to protect the environment. We want officials to be held accountable," its secretary Pat Geoghegan said.
The Government has committed to carrying out a review of the EPA, which is now 10 years old, so that it can "meet the environmental challenges that lie ahead".
In the programme for Government, it has also said that people or businesses which despoil the Irish countryside or break our environmental laws should be punished and should have to reverse any damage caused.
It is planning to review the level of fines and custodial sentences which can be applied by the lower courts, where the majority of prosecutions are taken.
Mr Geoghegan said that companies were willing to break the law when they only faced potential fines of up to €5,000.
"It's not acceptable. It's easier for them to pollute than to comply with their licences."
He and forum chairman Paul Byrne met Mr Gormley yesterday, at the Department of the Environment in Dublin, to discuss the concerns of their 30 member groups.
They cited several recent cases where companies had not been prosecuted for breaching their Integrated Pollution Control licences
A spokesman for Mr Gormley confirmed that he was committed to reviewing the role of the EPA and to getting better enforcement of environmental legislation.
However, the EPA defended its role by saying that its enforcement action was stronger than ever.
"Enforcement is something we take extremely seriously," a spokeswoman said.
Last year, the EPA carried out 529 inspections of licensed companies and issued 401 notices of non-compliance, which required the licencee to carry out certain actions to rectify the problem.
It also took 17 companies and individuals to court for environment pollution, securing 15 convictions.
(c) Irish Independent
"The main thing is the inaction by the EPA and officials who are not carrying out their duties to protect the environment. We want officials to be held accountable," its secretary Pat Geoghegan said.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL lobby group has called for more prosecutions of corporate polluters who flaunt the law.
The Irish Environmental Forum, which met yesterday with Environment Minister John Gormley, said it wanted a more hard-hitting approach from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"The main thing is the inaction by the EPA and officials who are not carrying out their duties to protect the environment. We want officials to be held accountable," its secretary Pat Geoghegan said.
The Government has committed to carrying out a review of the EPA, which is now 10 years old, so that it can "meet the environmental challenges that lie ahead".
In the programme for Government, it has also said that people or businesses which despoil the Irish countryside or break our environmental laws should be punished and should have to reverse any damage caused.
It is planning to review the level of fines and custodial sentences which can be applied by the lower courts, where the majority of prosecutions are taken.
Mr Geoghegan said that companies were willing to break the law when they only faced potential fines of up to €5,000.
"It's not acceptable. It's easier for them to pollute than to comply with their licences."
He and forum chairman Paul Byrne met Mr Gormley yesterday, at the Department of the Environment in Dublin, to discuss the concerns of their 30 member groups.
They cited several recent cases where companies had not been prosecuted for breaching their Integrated Pollution Control licences
A spokesman for Mr Gormley confirmed that he was committed to reviewing the role of the EPA and to getting better enforcement of environmental legislation.
However, the EPA defended its role by saying that its enforcement action was stronger than ever.
"Enforcement is something we take extremely seriously," a spokeswoman said.
Last year, the EPA carried out 529 inspections of licensed companies and issued 401 notices of non-compliance, which required the licencee to carry out certain actions to rectify the problem.
It also took 17 companies and individuals to court for environment pollution, securing 15 convictions.
(c) Irish Independent