Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Environmental Legislation

8:00 pm

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 328: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide an update of the table giving the status of European environmental infringement proceedings against Ireland as provided by his predecessor on 22 April 2010; the actions that he will take to have outstanding environmental cases against Ireland resolved; and the resources he is dedicating to this work. [17133/11]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is currently in formal correspondence in respect of 14 cases relating to transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation. The following Table, which provides details of these cases, excludes 4 cases responsibility for which has recently transferred to my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The Government is giving the highest priority to the transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation. Efforts are being intensified to bring Ireland into full compliance with EU legislation and to resolving outstanding ECJ infringement cases as quickly as possible. Since my coming into office, my Department has already secured the closure of 4 cases and we will be continuing to put in place the necessary measures to close outstanding cases, some of which are complex in nature and will involve a variety of initiatives, including, for example, the proposed licensing of septic tanks.

I have met with the EU Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik, on a number of occasions, most recently at the Environment Council on 21 June to reassure him that every effort is being made to address the Commission's concerns on outstanding cases.

This will continue to be a key priority for my Department in the lead up to the Irish Presidency in 2013.

Article 258 Letter of Formal NoticeArticle 258 Reasoned OpinionBeing Referred to the European Court of JusticeBefore the European Court of Justice for a hearing or awaiting judgementEuropean Court of Justice Decision to be ImplementedArticle 260 Letter of Formal NoticeArticle 260 Second Letter of Formal NoticeECJ request for fines
75/442/EEC the waste directive000000112
80/68/EEC on groundwater000001001
85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment000010113
91/271/EEC on urban waste water treatment000010001
96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control001000001
2000/60 Water Framework Directive100000001
2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment010000001
2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment010000001
2008/56/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy010000001
2009/30/EC Fuel Quality100000001
2010/26/EC Emissions from non road mobile machinery100000001
TOTAL NUMBER AT EACH STAGE3310212214

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.