Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the long delay in introducing regulations on end-of-life vehicles; the communications he has had with the EU Commission in regard to the proposed regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3913/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling provisions to facilitate implementation of European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles were incorporated in the Protection of the Environment Act 2003. The delay in transposing and implementing the directive principally reflects difficulties in reaching agreement with the relevant sectors on the detailed mechanisms for the operation of the take back arrangements required by the directive, including how such arrangements will be funded.

My Department has had correspondence and discussions with the European Commission with regard to various aspects regarding the transposition and implementation of the directive in Ireland. Legal proceedings were initiated against Ireland by the European Commission on the grounds that the directive was only partially transposed as the regulations on the detailed arrangements for implementation of the directive in Ireland had not been made. The European Court of Justice made a judgment in this case on 28 October 2004 and found that Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations regarding the full transposition of the directive.

I have had discussions with relevant sectors with a view to developing an effective approach with regard to implementation and I hope to announce my proposals shortly. It is intended to make regulations as soon as possible this year to fully transpose the directive provisions and facilitate its full implementation.