Sinnott clashes with EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency should be disbanded for its failure to crack down on industrial pollution, it was claimed today.
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott said the agency was licensing companies who were polluters and was failing to listen to the concerns of ordinary people.
“I am now calling for the disbandment of the existing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and an immediate investigation into their workings to date. No confidence exists now between the public and the EPA,” she said.
The EPA was established in 1993 as an independent public body to measure air and water quality, to regulate activities that have significant potential for pollution, and to enforce environment law.
Ms Sinnott said she had received large numbers of complaints about the agency from people in her South constituency and outside it.
The EPA said it absolutely rejected the ‘unfounded and inaccurate comments’.
“The EPA will be taking this matter further and will be consulting our legal team in relation to Ms Sinnott’s efforts to damage the reputation of the EPA,” said a spokeswoman.
She added that Ms Sinnott was "clearly misinformed" on the issues and had not met to meet with the EPA or seek clarification.
In a two-page statement, the EPA said it was untrue to say that it was licensing polluters.
“The EPA Act, 1992 specifically prohibits the EPA from granting a licence if emissions from the activity would cause pollution.”
