Written Answers - Waste Management

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 725 No. 2
Unrevised

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  187.  Deputy Joanna Tuffy  Information on Joanna Tuffy  Zoom on Joanna Tuffy   asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government  Information on John Gormley  Zoom on John Gormley   the steps that have been taken to ensure the Haulbowline site is in compliance with European Union directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48002/10]

  196.  Deputy David Stanton  Information on David Stanton  Zoom on David Stanton   asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government  Information on John Gormley  Zoom on John Gormley   further to Parliamentary Question No. 26 of 25 November 2010, if he has finalised the reply to the European Commission’s letter of formal notice regarding a valid waste authorisation permit for the Irish Ispat site at Haulbowline following a 2005 European Court of Justice decision on case 494/01; when he expects to receive a response from the Commission to the reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47514/10]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Information on John Gormley  Zoom on John Gormley  I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 196 together.

In June 2009, the Government decided that the Office of Public Works (OPW) would chair a working group to develop a structured and coherent approach to the further management and development of the former Irish Ispat site. The group is now established and has held a number of meetings.

The Terms of Reference of the OPW Working Group include looking at the regulatory requirements for the site and advising the Government on the most beneficial future use of the site. The future use will in itself determine the levels and extent of further works and/or remediation required, as well as helping to clarify the further regulatory requirements which may fall to be met.

The issue of an appropriate authorisation for the site was raised in a letter of formal notification issued to Ireland in respect of European Court of Justice case C-494/01. Ireland’s response to the letter of formal notice has been the subject of engagement with the European Commission and I expect to finalise a formal reply shortly.

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