“A High Court challenge has been brought over the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to grant an industrial Emissions Licence to a chicken rearing plant in Co. Limerick.
The action has been taken by environmental activist Peter Sweetman in respect of the EPA’s decision of February 6 last to grant the licence to Mr Michael Noel O’Connor to operate a facility that rears 74,000 broiler chickens at Rathcahill West, Templeglantine.
At the High Court James Devlin SC, instructed by solicitor Gabriel Toolan, for Mr Sweetman said it is his client’s case that the EPA’s decision is flawed and should be set aside.
It is alleged the EPA failed to consider relevant matters, lacked jurisdiction to make the decision and failed to properly take into account the EU Habitats, Waste Water and Environmental Impact Directives when it decided to award the licence.
Counsel said that his client has concerns about ‘poultry litter’ from the facility which produces broiler chickens, which are chickens that are used as meat.
This litter is cleared from the sheds every six to eight weeks when straw bedding is removed and the shed floors are washed down with water, counsel said.
These emissions, counsel said, are then used as compost at a mushroom facility, but most of it is spread on land.”
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