Written answers

Tuesday, 16 May 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

EU Directives

9:00 pm

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the European Directives that have to be implemented by his Department; when these directives were first issued; the timeframe for their implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18462/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, some 200 items of which, including more than 140 Directives, have by now been transposed in this country. There are currently eight Directives in my Department's area of responsibility which are outstanding for transposition. A further four Directives are due for transposition between August 2006 and March 2008. Details of these Directives are set out below.

Directive Number and Title Date of Directive Date Due for Transposition Current Position on Transposition
Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on end-of life vehicles 18 September 2000 21 April 2002 Draft regulations issued to the Commission on 20 February 2006. It is anticipated that the legislation fully transposing the Directive will be finalized in the second quarter of 2006.
Directive 2002/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery 9 December 2002 11 August 2004 Draft Regulations have been prepared and it is anticipated that the legislation fully transposing the Directive will be finalized by the end of 2006.
Directive 2004/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery 21 April 2004 20 May 2005 The drafting of Regulations to transpose this Directive is ongoing. Legislation fully transposing this Directive will be completed at the earliest possible date.
Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC 28 January 2003 14 February 2005 Draft regulations for the transposition of this Directive are under consideration and it is intended that it will be transposed at the earliest possible date.
Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC 26 May 2003 25 June 2005 Work is continuing on the various instruments with a view to completing transposition at the earliest possible date.
Directive 2004/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste 11 February 2004 18 August 2005 My Department has prepared draft regulations to transpose this Directive. These have been submitted to the EU Commission for examination and transposition is expected to be finalized by the second quarter 2006.
Directive 2004/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products and amending Directive 1999/13/EC 21 April 2004 31 October 2005 The drafting of Regulations to transpose this Directive is ongoing. It is anticipated that the legislation fully transposing the Directive will be finalized in the second quarter 2006.
Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the energy performance of buildings 16 December 2002 04 January 2006 Elements of this Directive have already been transposed. Work is continuing, in co-operation with the Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources, with a view to fully transposing the Directive by 30 September 2006.
Directive 2005/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 1999/32/EEC on the reduction in the Sulphur content of certain Liquid Fuels and itself amending Directive 93/12/EEC 6 July 2005 11 August 2006 Draft regulations to transpose this Directive will be made as soon as possible. It is anticipated that the Directive will be transposed by the end of 2006.
Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air 15 December 2004 15 February 2007 Draft regulations to transpose this Directive will be made as soon as possible. It is anticipated that the Directive will be transposed by the due date.
Directive 2004/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage 21 April 2004 30 April 2007 It is anticipated that the legislation transposing the directive will be finalized by the transposition date.
Directive 2006/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76/160/EEC 15 February 2006 24 March 2008 It is anticipated that the legislation transposing the directive will be finalized by the transposition date.

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