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Oral hearings

Anyone who makes a valid objection to a proposed determination can request an oral hearing. A request must include the €100 fee (in addition to the objection fee) and be received within the 28-day objection period. This period commences on the date of notification of the proposed determination by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA has absolute discretion to hold an oral hearing, whether or not a request has been made.

Factors

While there is no specific statutory criteria governing the decision to hold one, factors that would influence us include:

  • new issues not previously raised that are specific to the location of the development;
  • the sensitivity of the location or local environment;
  • if the matter is of national or regional importance;
  • the scale and complexity of the development; or
  • significant new information.

Can I withdraw an oral hearing request?

A request for an Oral Hearing can be withdrawn at any time prior to it being considered by the Board of the Agency.

Learn more

Aspects of Licensing Procedures: Objections and Oral Hearings to find out more about oral hearings.

Oral Hearing FAQs

Oral Hearing FAQ's

An Oral Hearing is a forum for all parties to an objection to orally express their objections and concerns about a Proposed Determination. It provides the applicant, objector(s) and the local authority (where relevant) the opportunity to appear in person and/or to be represented by another person.

 

Browse the FAQ's to learn more

  • What is the Industrial Emissions Directive?

    The Industrial Emissions Directive which came into force on the 6th of January 2011 and came about as a result of a European Commission review of European legislation on industrial emissions. The review led to the commission proposing this directive on industrial emissions (The IED or Industrial Emissions Directive) which replaces seven existing directives namely:

    • The Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD)
    • The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC)
    • The Waste Incineration Directive (WID)
    • The Solvent Emissions Directive (SED) and 
    • Three existing directives on titanium dioxide.


    Click here for link to the European Commission IED webpage

  • How do I interpret the term "capacity"?

    Many of the IED classes of activity talk about production capacity, consumption capacity, treatment capacity, etc., but how do you interpret the term ‘capacity.’

    Simply put the term refers to both the legal (for example limitations placed on a production capacity by legislation, planning permission or licence) and the technical capacity of an installation (for example the technical or physical limitations on waste processing capacity as a result of infrastructure or machinery).

    It should be noted that it is not considered sufficient/reliable to convert IED daily thresholds into annual thresholds in order to determine capacity.

    For further discussion on the interpretation of “capacity” see the European Commission’s Guidance on Interpretation and Determination of Capacity under the IPPC Directive at https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/industrial-emissions-and-safety_en

  • What is temporary storage of waste?

    According to the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, the temporary storage of waste refers to the storage of waste for a period of not more than six months.

  • What are the newly prescribed activities in the food & drink sector (activities which previously did not require a licence)?

    Newly prescribed activities in the food and drink sector include those installations involved in:

    1. The treatment and processing for the production of feed from animal and/ or vegetable raw materials, where finished product production capacity exceeds 75 tonnes per day where 10% or more animal raw material is used and 300 tonnes per day if only vegetable raw material. 
    2. The treatment and processing for the production of food or feed from a mixture of animal and vegetable raw materials at specified daily production capacity (a sliding scale for mixed production in the range 75 to 300 tonnes per day applies where less than 10% animal raw material is used).
    3. The treatment and process for the production of feed on a seasonal basis of more than 600 tonnes per day for a period of no more than 90 days in any year.

    Read more

  • What are the newly prescribed activities under the First Schedule of the EPA Act 1992 as amended (existing installation not covered by the EPA Act)?

    The following activities are newly prescribed and will require an Industrial Emissions Licence by 7th July 2015:

    1. The production of, organic/ inorganic chemicals, of phosphorus-based, nitrogen-based or potassium-based fertilisers, of plant health products and of biocides, of pharmaceutical products including intermediates, of explosives, provided that the activity concerns production by biological processing.
    2. The gasification and liquefaction of fuels other than coal, with a rated thermal input of 20MW or more.
    3. An activity specified in paragraph 7.8 (food and drink sector) that did not previously require a licence.
    4. In relation to the waste sector, certain waste licences will become IE licences and regulated under the EPA Act 1992 to 2013.

    Given the complexity and scale of some IED activities, and in order to avoid possible delays caused by submitting an incomplete application, the EPA recommends that you engage in pre-application clarification/consultation prior to submitting your application for an IED licence.

    Contact the EPA Environmental Licensing Programme at licensing@epa.ie if you wish to arrange a pre-application meeting.