I move amendment No. 3: In page 13, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: "(4) The Minister shall cause a copy of any order made under subsection (1) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and the order shall lapse 6 months after the date it is made unless earlier revoked or expressly continued by a resolution of both Houses.". Mar gheall ar leasú a 3, this proposes to amend the Environmental Protection Agency Act in order to guarantee Oireachtas oversight. It will require that any order made for a licence in emergency circumstances be laid before both the Dáil and Seanad and will include a clause for review every six months. The intention behind is to facilitate scrutiny by public representatives and to intervene if circumstances have changed from when the emergency licence was initially granted, that is, if it is no longer necessary. Amendment No. 15 will amend the Waste Management Act in the same way.
Sentiment score: -0.22
Will orders, if any orders are proposed, include it?
Sentiment score: 0.00
On that basis, I will not press the amendment.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I move amendment No. 4: In page 14, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "(d) publish a notice of the request for an exemption, accompanied by the information provided under subsection (1), on a website maintained by it or on its behalf and in a national newspaper, inviting submissions from the public within a period of not less than 30 days; (e) consider all submissions or observations received under paragraph (d) and publish a reasoned report addressing the material issues raised.". Mar gheall ar leasaithe a 4 agus a 11, they provide, on page 14, between lines 18 and 19, that a notice would be published about the exemption. Amendment No. 4 will amend the EPA Act and the Waste Management Act to increase transparency so that the public can access the information regarding the granting of exemptions from an environmental impact assessment. The purpose and the thinking behind it is to facilitate public consultation and mandate the publication of a report to address the issues raised as part of the consultation so that all submissions or observations, which were received under paragraph (d), would be considered and a reasoned report addressing the material issues would be raised.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I move amendment No. 5: In page 14, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(4A) In this section, ‘exceptional circumstances’ means circumstances that— (a) arise from a unique and unforeseeable event, or a specific and demonstrable public necessity, (b) cannot reasonably be addressed by compliance with the requirements of the EIA Directive within the timeframe necessary to avert serious risk to human health, safety, the environment or essential public services, and (c) are strictly limited in scope, duration and geographic extent. (4B) The Agency shall not grant an exemption unless, having regard to subsection (4A), it is satisfied on the basis of clear and convincing evidence that— (a) the exemption is proportionate to the risk or necessity identified, and (b) no reasonable alternative exists that would allow compliance with the EIA Directive. (4C) An exemption granted under this section shall specify: (a) the reasons and evidence relied upon; (b) the alternative assessment method and minimum content requirements; (c) a maximum duration; (d) any conditions, monitoring and reporting obligations necessary to avoid, prevent, reduce or offset significant adverse effects. (4D) An exemption which has expired under paragraph (c) of subsection (4C) may may be renewed.". Níl mé ag brú na leasaithe sin. I am withdrawing those two.
Sentiment score: -0.11
I move amendment No. 6: In page 14, to delete lines 31 to 34 and substitute the following: "(b) publish, prior to deciding the application to which the exemption relates, a notice of the exemption, any requirements referred to in paragraph (a), a summary of public and authority submissions, and the Agency’s reasoned conclusions on the main issues raised— (i) on a website maintained by it or on its behalf, and (ii) in a national newspaper,". Mar gheall ar leasaithe a 6, it is to delete lines 31 to 34 and substitute that it would publish, prior to deciding the application to which the exemption relates, a notice of the exemption, any requirements referred to in the paragraph, a summary of public and authority submissions, and the agency’s reasoned conclusions on the main issues raised, on a website or in a national newspaper. This is to increase public participation and transparency, to amend the EPA Act and the Waste Management Act to ensure that views of the public are taken into account, and to help with public buy-in and reduce the likelihood of objections.
Sentiment score: 0.11
I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “(d) ensure that information published under this section is accessible, written in plain language, and includes non-technical summaries of likely significant effects and mitigation measures.”. Mar gheall ar leasú Uimh. 7 agus 14, ar leathanach 15, idir líne 4 agus 5, molaim go gcuirfí isteach “to ensure that information published under this section is accessible, written in plain language, and includes non-technical summaries of likely significant effects and mitigation measures.”. This is designed to amend the EPA Act and the Waste Management Act, both of which deal with the fact that many decisions are communicated in a way that is extremely technical due to the complexity of the issues being addressed. By being so technical in nature, these decisions are inaccessible to many members of the general public. Our amendments mandate that the information that will be published in line with the provisions of this section will be accessible, written in plain language and include non-technical summaries of likely significant effects and mitigation measures. By increasing transparency, public participation and oversight, we will increase public buy-in and reduce the likelihood of objections.
Sentiment score: 0.11
Mar gheall ar na leasuithe sin, tá muid á dtarraingt. I will not be moving those amendments.
Sentiment score: -0.28
I move amendment No. 9: In page 19, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(4) The Minister may by regulations prescribe periods under subsection (2), having consulted the Agency, and may prescribe different periods for different classes of activity. (5) The Agency shall include in its annual report under section 51(3) the number of cases in which the period under this section was exceeded, the reasons, and corrective actions taken.”.”. Mar gheall ar na leasuithe sin, ar leathanach 19, idir líne 15 agus 16, molaim go gcuirfí isteach “The Minister may by regulations prescribe periods under subsection (2), having consulted the Agency, and may prescribe different periods for different classes of activity.” and that “The Agency shall include in its annual report under section 51(3)”. These amendments are designed to amend the EPA Act and Waste Management Act by mandating that the EPA should include details of missed deadlines in its annual report.
Sentiment score: -0.28
I move amendment No. 11: In page 23, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(d) publish a notice of the request for an exemption, accompanied by the information provided under subsection (1), on a website maintained by it or on its behalf and in a national newspaper, inviting submissions from the public within a period of not less than 30 days, and (e) consider all submissions or observations received under paragraph (d) and publish a reasoned report addressing the material issues raised.”.
Sentiment score: 0.01
I move amendment No. 12: In page 23, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(4A) In this section, ‘exceptional circumstances’ means circumstances that— (a) arise from a unique and unforeseeable event, or a specific and demonstrable public necessity, (b) cannot reasonably be addressed by compliance with the requirements of the EIA Directive within the timeframe necessary to avert serious risk to human health, safety, the environment or essential public services, and (c) are strictly limited in scope, duration and geographic extent. (4B) The Agency shall not grant an exemption unless, having regard to subsection (4A), it is satisfied on the basis of clear and convincing evidence that— (a) the exemption is proportionate to the risk or necessity identified, (b) no reasonable alternative exists that would allow compliance with the EIA Directive. (4C) An exemption granted under this section shall specify: (a) the reasons and evidence relied upon; (b) the alternative assessment method and minimum content requirements; (c) a maximum duration; (d) any conditions, monitoring and reporting obligations necessary to avoid, prevent, reduce or offset significant adverse effects.”.
Sentiment score: -0.06
I move amendment No. 13: In page 24, to delete lines 4 to 7 and substitute the following: “(b) publish, prior to deciding the application to which the exemption relates, a notice of the exemption, any requirements referred to in paragraph (a), a summary of public and authority submissions, and the Agency’s reasoned conclusions on the main issues raised— (i) on a website maintained by it or on its behalf, and (ii) in a national newspaper,”.
Sentiment score: -0.11
I move amendment No. 14: In page 24, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: “(d) ensure that information published under this section is accessible, written in plain language, and includes non-technical summaries of likely significant effects and mitigation measures.”.
Sentiment score: 0.12