Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number, in respect 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 to date in 2007 regarding delays or non-implementation of such directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18605/07]

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

Directive 2006/109/EC adapting Directive 94/45/EC on the establishment of a European Works Council by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania; Transposition deadline: 1 January 2007; Expected date of transposition: 31 July 2007. Another four Directives are due for transposition during the remainder of 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 these Directives have been resolved satisfactorily.

We are currently taking corrective measures in the context of draft legislation to introduce a public lending right to address a European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland for incorrect transposition of Directive 92/100/EC related to rental rights and lending rights in the field of intellectual property. In that regard, it will be brought before the Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007 through the Oireachtas as soon as possible.