Part I contains general provisions that, inter alia, provide for powers of authorized persons, regulation making powers of the Minister and prescribe offences. There shall be a body corporate to be known in the English language as the Environmental Protection Agency to perform the functions assigned to it by or under this Act (sect. 19), and there shall be an Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Agency or to the Minister relating to the functions of the Agency (sects. 27 and 28). The Agency shall establish such number of regional environmental units as may be approved of by the Minister (sect. 49). The functions of the Agency shall include: (a) the licensing, regulation and control of activities for the purposes of environmental protection; (b) the monitoring of the quality of the environment, including the establishment and maintenance of data bases of information related to the environment and making arrangements for the dissemination of such information and for public access thereto; (c) the provision of support and advisory services for the purposes of environmental protection to local authorities and other public authorities in relation to the performance of any function of those authorities; (d) the promotion and coordination of environmental research; and (e) other functions relative to co-ordination, education, etc. (sect. 52). Section 58 provides for the monitoring of the quality of water intended for human consumption, whereas section 59 concerns collection, treatment, discharge or disposal of sewage or other effluents to waters. Section 60 defines functions of the Agency in relation to water or sewage treatment. The Agency shall prepare a national hydrometic programmes and an environmental monitoring programme. It shall also maintain a database on environmental quality. Section 72 deals with environmental impact assessment. The Agency shall set environmental quality objectives under section 75 and prepare and publish codes of practice under section 76. The last parts of this Act provide for integrated pollution control and general pollution control, including the granting of pollution licences. Section 111 provides for regulation of genetically modified organisms. (113 sections completed by 3 Schedules)
Ireland · 1992-04-23