Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when Directive 2003/4/EC will be transposed into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16415/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal with public access to environmental information (2003/4/EC) and public participation in certain environmental decision-making procedures (2003/35/EC). Ratification of the Convention will take place after these Directives have been transposed into Irish Law.

Work is continuing in my Department with regard to the transposition of Directive 2003/4/EC and indeed also with regard to Directive 2003/35/EC and will be completed as soon as possible. When the above work on transposition is completed, the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention will be laid before the Dáil in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution.