Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to be here to report on the amendments that were made to the Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 during its passage through the Dáil. However, before I do that, I wish to make two broad comments. First, the Bill has genuinely benefited from the consideration given to it in both Houses. This has resulted in significant amendments to the text by the Government but also as a result of changes proposed by the Opposition. Second, the improvements to the Bill are in no small way related to the length of time given to its consideration by the Houses since publication of the Bill last January.

The Bill has been considered for over 40 hours in the two Houses and this is an indication of our commitment both to the environment and to the legislative process itself. The extensiveness of the amendments may well provoke comment. In response, I point out that the production of legislation is not an everyday matter. It takes time to draft and it is often problematic to find time for debate in the Houses. It is right that, when an opportunity such as this Bill presents itself, we should take that opportunity to deal with as many issues as possible for the benefit of the environment. In view of the significance of the amendments, Senators will understand if I deal with those of substance and leave to one side those that are purely technical or consequential. If Members have queries on amendments not specifically referred to, I will be glad to elaborate on them later.

Changes that were made to the Bill in the latter stages of its consideration in the Dáil are contained in amendments Nos. 25, 32, 46, 51 and 52 which provide for the transposition of European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles – commonly referred to as the ELV directive – and for a legislative framework for its implementation in Ireland. The amendments are primarily concerned with providing enabling powers to facilitate the satisfactory implementation of the ELV directive.