Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the likely cost to the State in fines if Ireland fails to implement the outstanding EU directives for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16393/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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To date, fines have not been ordered by the European Court of Justice in relation to any case taken against Ireland.

While the majority of issues raised by the European Commission are resolved without recourse to the European Court of Justice, there are currently eight cases where legal proceedings have been initiated by the Commission in relation to EU environmental directives, seven of which are the direct responsibility of my Department. This includes one case where the Commission has applied to the court seeking the application of a daily fine of €21,600 for each day of delay in implementing measures in relation to the environmental impact directive. It is not possible to anticipate the decision of the court in this case.