Roche’s response to legal action does nothing to inspire confidence

FORMER Europe Minister Dick Roche has, for the second time since becoming Environment Minister claimed he did not know of court action being taken against Ireland by the European Commission.

Last January, shortly after taking the job, he complained that the commission had issued press releases before officially telling him they were taking eight separate cases over water pollution, waste disposal, and inadequate measures to reduce air pollution.

The latest three cases - one of them about a breach the Government has already been found guilty of - have elicited the same response from the minister.