Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Regulations transposing the European Communities access to information on the environment directive were signed and came into effect on 1 May 2007. The process to transpose the other directive is well advanced, with legislation completed to amend the majority of the relevant consent systems pertaining to that directive within an Irish legislative framework. Work is continuing on the outstanding issues, namely, four consent systems, of which three currently are the responsibility of the Department and one of the Office of Public Works. It will be finalised at the earliest possible date. On completion of the full transposition of Directive 2003/35/EC, the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Foreign Affairs will ensure the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention will be submitted to the Government and laid before the Dáil.

As for the other matter raised by Deputy Higgins, the United Nations Convention against Corruption, I regret I must ask the relevant Minister to communicate with the Deputy about that.

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