Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As regards the conservation piece, it is unacceptable for the Government to interfere in parliamentary scrutiny of the statutory instruments on conservation. There is a litany of examples where Ireland is failing to transpose environmental directives. Not only are we incurring fines; we are also damaging the environment. It is upon this committee to be able to scrutinise those directives.

Will the Minister of State work with his colleagues across the Government to ensure that they, in co-operation with the committee, and recognising the separation of powers between the Parliament and the Government, will assure us that the Government will not attempt to undermine or dilute the work of the committee? Does the Minister of State accept that given Ireland's consistent failure to properly transpose environmental directives, this committee needs to scrutinise what the Government is doing to remedy judgments against Ireland by the CJEU, where such remedies are brought through use of statutory instruments? Where transposing legislation is absent entirely, this is a concern for the committee. Specifically on the recent CJEU ruling, and I would appreciate it if the Minister of State would respond in writing if he cannot do so now, will he consult with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ask that draft statutory instruments, which would implement the judgment or at least a plan for implementation, be presented to the committee as soon as possible?