The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is guilty of consistently distorting science for political reasons and pressuring its staff scientists to water-down the green regulations and guidelines they are working on.

The Irish Times has reported that the introduction of a penalty points system to punish environmental offenders and the development of a system of corporate responsibility for environmental damage are among the chief recommendations included in a new report just released.

Mr Billy Kelleher TD Minister for Labour Affairs has announced the publication of the Government's Chemicals Bill, 2008, which will put in place a more streamlined and coherent legal framework for the regulation of chemicals in Ireland pursuant to EU chemicals legislation.

Seriously damaging the environment should be made a criminal offence in all EU Member States, so as to ensure that EU legislation is properly enforced, says the Legal Affairs Committee in a co-decision report - approved on 8 April - on a proposed EU directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law.

The Irish Independent has reported that five former managers of a waste company who went into competition with their ex-employer have promised not to use confidential information allegedly taken by one of them before he left, the High Court heard.