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The Green Party has welcomed the decision by the European Court of Justice whose ruling today allows the European Commission to instruct Member States to change their laws to ensure that serious damage to the environment can be categorized as a criminal offence. The Party has now called on the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche TD to act decisively and ensure that stronger penalties are introduced for polluters. Green Party Environment Spokesperson Ciaran Cuffe stated: "This is an opportunity for the Irish Government to act decisively and ensure that polluters pay for their crimes. Minister Roche should ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency is now given the right to prosecute offenders in the High Court rather than the District Courts." "This could help ensure that environmental criminals don't flout the law. It should also send a message to the Irish Judiciary that crimes such as water pollution or illegal dumping are seen as serious offences" | |||||||
