Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of EU directives for which his Department has responsibility, remaining to be implemented; the directives that are overdue; the number of reasoned opinions received from the EU Commission since 2002 regarding delays or non-implementation of such directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8342/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently a total of seventeen Directives due to be transposed by my Department up to 2010. Four of these Directives are overdue and the following is the position with regard to implementation progress:

1. Directive 2004/22/EC of 31 March 2004 concerning harmonisation of measuring instruments

Transposition deadline: 30 April 2006.

Expected date of implementation: 16 March 2007.

2. Directive 2003/72/EC supplementing the Statute for a European Cooperative Society with regard to the involvement of employees

Transposition deadline: 18 August 2006.

Expected date of implementation: 30 March 2007.

3. Directive 2004/108/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility

Transposition deadline: 20 January 2007.

Expected date of implementation: 9 March 2007.

4. Directive 2004/109/EC on minimum transparency requirements for listed companies

Transposition deadline: 20 January 2007.

Expected date of implementation: 15 March 2007.

Another Six Directives are due for transposition during 2007 and seven further Directives are scheduled to be transposed in 2008 and subsequent years.

My Department has received 23 Reasoned Opinions from the European Commission related to overdue Directives since 2002. The outstanding issues concerning all but one of the Directives have been resolved satisfactorily. Proceedings are ongoing in the European Court of Justice in relation to a finding against Ireland for incorrect transposition of Directive 92/100/EC related to rental rights and lending rights in the field of intellectual property. Corrective measures are being taken in the context of draft legislation to introduce a public lending right. I intend to publish this Bill shortly.