Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of the communication from the European Commission in early 2006 regarding environmental problems with Ireland's forestry policy; if the European Commission has contacted her Department since the initial communication; the content of these communications; and if her Department has taken action on the basis of that communication. [35390/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to two Reasoned Opinions addressed to Ireland, one in relation to the implementation of the EIA Directive and the other in relation to the Habitats Directive. The first is dated 13 July, 2005 and the second 4 July, 2006.

In relation to the first, which deals with the application of the EIA Directive to proposed afforestation projects, my Department has always had systems in place to assess whether or not a project required a full Environmental Impact Assessment. However, we have agreed with the European Commission that this procedure could be made more explicit and could be improved upon to better reflect the requirements of the Directive. Two meetings have taken place at official level between representatives of my Department and the European Commission where this issue was discussed in detail and where my Department provided details of new screening procedures, which have subsequently been introduced, to ensure Ireland's compliance with the EIA Directive. My Department has recently requested a final meeting with officials from the European Commission which, it is hoped, will bring this matter to conclusion.

In relation to the second Reasoned Opinion, which deals with the application of the Habitats Directive across a number of areas, including forestry, this matter is being dealt with by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department has provided material to that Department which addresses the forestry concerns for inclusion in Ireland's response to the Commission. A reply to the Reasoned Opinion issued to the European Commission on the 4th of September 2006.