Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 290: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the current rate of daily fines levied by the European Court of Justice that are accruing to the Government arising from Ireland's failure to properly implement European Union directives; if he will identify the relevant cases and directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/05]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 291: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the costs imposed on Ireland arising from losing actions at the European Court of Justice in each of the past five years; the costs in 2005 to date; if he will identify the relevant cases and directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14617/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 291 together.

Daily fines have not been ordered by the European Court of Justice regarding any case taken against Ireland. Between 2001 and 2005, there were seven judgments against Ireland in areas for which my Department has responsibility, and all of these included orders that the State should pay costs. However, it is not possible to indicate these costs, as they remain to be computed by the European Commission. The Community legislation involved in these seven cases has been the habitats directive, two instances, the nitrates directive, directives on waste, drinking water quality and end of life vehicles and a regulation on ozone depleting substances.