Minister for the Environment Michael Smith launches the Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters is located at Johnstown Castle in County Wexford. The establishment of the agency has been in the pipeline for three and a half years.
The agency will be primarily responsible for safeguarding the environment.
The duties of the EPA will include controlling and monitoring pollution from industry and agriculture by setting standards for waste emissions. Michael Smith explains that the responsibilities for environmental protection previously held by the county councils will not fall under one agency. This new coordinated approach has been welcomed by the chemical industry. Neil Buckley, Federation of Irish Chemical Industries, says that up to now there have been different standards from county to county demonstrating a lack of unity in the approach to environmental protection. He welcomes a national approach.
John Bowler, Greenpeace, says that the goal of the EPA should be the elimination of pollution rather than monitoring it and cleaning it up.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 July 1993. The reporter is Cathy Milner.
