John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 121, 125 and 130 together.

My Department has prepared a screening regulatory impact analysis on the options for transposing the EU environmental liability directive. This document is available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie. The views of interested parties were sought on it, and 29 responses were received from a varied group of respondents. These views have now been assessed. A summary of the views submitted will be published as part of the further consultation on the transposition of the directive.

Preparatory work on drafting the legal instrument for transposing the directive is under way in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. I will publish the draft instrument for public consultation as soon as possible.

My Department has received, from the European Commission, a letter of formal notice and a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the EU treaty about the transposition of the environmental liability directive. Responses to this correspondence issued to the Commission on 26 July 2007 and 31 March 2008, respectively. There has been no further correspondence from the Commission.

See this speech in context