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12th
May 2004
EPA
report requires changes in Government's Environment policies
The Green
Party has called for changes in Government policy in order to address the
challenges in the Environmental Protection Agency's report titled,
Ireland's Environment 2004 which was published today. The report stated
that there are still "serious
problems and threats" to Ireland's environment.
Reacting
to the report, Green Party Deputy Leader and candidate for East, Cllr.
Mary White said today, "The
Government should adopt policies that reduce the damage to our environment.
Instead of spending the bulk of transport funding on motorways we should
be improving bus and rail links. Improved enforcement of water quality is
required to reduce eutrophication of our lakes and streams. It is not enough to
build new water treatment plants - we must also provide high standards of
management and maintenance."
"With
regard to Climate Change it seems increasingly likely that consumers will have
to pick up the tab for the Government's failure to implement policies that
reduce emissions. Big business must pay its fair share in
order to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions," she concluded.
"Changes
in waste management are also required", stated Local Government
spokesperson,
Ciarán Cuffe TD. "Illegal and unauthorised dumping is continuing, and
the Government seems more interested in building incinerators, rather than
reducing the amount of waste created. We want the Minister for the Environment
Martin Cullen to ensure that more ambitious targets are set for waste reduction,
re-use and recycling.
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