Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that EU Directive 2004/36/EC will be implemented before 30 April 2006; if the directive will not be implemented by 30 April 2006 the reason Ireland will not meet its obligations to implement this directive before the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12945/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Most of the provisions of the directive including actual inspections are already in place and being carried out by the Irish Aviation Authority.

My Department is currently working on a statutory instrument to transpose this directive into Irish law as soon as possible.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that EU Directive 2004/49/EC, the Railway Safety Directive, will be implemented before 30 April 2006; if the directive will not be implemented by 30 April 2006 the reason Ireland will not meet its obligations to implement this directive before the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12946/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Railway Safety Act 2005 provides for the implementation of most of the provisions of the EU Directive 2004/49/EC — Railway Safety Directive — including Articles 16 and 21, which require the establishment of a national railway safety authority and a railway incident investigation unit respectively.

My Department is currently drafting regulations to provide for the transposition of the remaining elements of the directive. It is the intention to do this by the end of April 2006.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that EU Directive 2004/50/EC will be implemented before 29 April 2006; if the directive will not be implemented by 29 April 2006 the reason Ireland will not meet its obligations to implement this directive before the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12947/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The preparation of draft regulations to transpose Directive 2004/50/EC is being finalised by my Department with a view to their implementation before the April 2006 deadline.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that EU Directive 2004/54/EC will be implemented before 30 April 2006; if the directive will not be implemented by 30 April 2006 the reason Ireland will not meet its obligations to implement this directive before the deadline; the effects this directive will have on the Jack Lynch tunnel and the Dublin Port tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12948/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I intend to sign regulations to implement EU Directive 2004/54/EC, on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European network, by 30 April 2006. Both the Dublin Port and Jack Lynch tunnels were designed and built to best international standards in terms of tunnel safety. A review has found that the safety installations of the Dublin Port tunnel exceed those prescribed under the directive. In the case of the Jack Lynch tunnel, a detailed review will be completed later this year. However, it is anticipated that no significant modifications are required to comply with the terms of the directive. The administrative measures required under the directive will be incorporated into the regulations which I intend to make and will be implemented over the coming months in the case of both tunnels.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that EU Directives 2005/39/EC, 2005/40/EC and 2005/41/EC will be implemented before 19 April 2006; if the directives will not be implemented by 19 April 2006 the reason Ireland will not meet its obligations to implement this directive before the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12949/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I intend to transpose into Irish law before 20 April 2006 Directive 2005/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005, amending Council Directive 74/408/EEC relating to motor vehicles with regard to the seats, their anchorages and head restraints; Directive 2005/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005, amending Council Directive 77/541/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to safety belts and restraint systems of motor vehicles and Directive 2005/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005, amending Council Directive 76/115/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to anchorages for motor-vehicle safety belts.

These directives collectively provide, inter alia, for the extension of requirements to fit safety belts to all forward facing seats in all new passenger and goods vehicles, including buses and minibuses, with the exception of buses constructed and-or designed with areas for standing passengers to allow frequent passenger movement. In accordance with these directives, new vehicles may not be registered, sold or entered into service here, with effect from 20 October 2007, unless fitted with safety belts as provided for.