Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to the ruling of 2 June 2005 of the European Court of Justice in Case C-282/02 that Ireland was in breach of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 regarding urban waste water treatment, for [i]inter alia[/i] not having an authorisation system for discharges from urban waste water treatment plants and other waste water infrastructure, if he will confirm that Ireland is in full compliance with this directive. [19394/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his reply to the reasoned opinion sent by the European Commission in March 2007 in relation to Commission infringement procedure no. 1997/4409 on Ireland's failure to respect obligation regarding microbiological standards for drinking water set down in the Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) as well as weaknesses in Irish legislation governing private water supplies; when Ireland formally responded to the Commission's reasoned opinion. [19414/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his reply to the reasoned opinion sent by the European Commission in March 2007 in relation to Ireland's obligation to comply with the European Court of Justice ruling of 2 June 2005 in Case C-282/02 for, [i]inter alia[/i], not having an authorisation system for discharges from urban waster water treatment plants and other waste water infrastructure as required by Council Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment. [19415/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 273 and 274 together.

European Court of Justice case C-282/02 concerns Ireland's implementation of Council Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community (now Directive 2006/11/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council). One aspect of the judgment in that case was that Ireland was in breach of Article 7(2) of the original Dangerous Substances Directive by failing to make certain local authority discharges subject to authorisation.

Draft regulations providing for a new authorisation regime for all discharges from local authority waste water treatment plants are nearing completion in my Department, in consultation with the European Commission and other relevant interests. I expect to make these regulations, which will also give further effect to the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), in the near future.

In relation to the European Court of Justice judgment in Case C-316/00 concerning Ireland's failure to comply with certain micro-biological parameters of Council Directive 80/778/EEC relating to water intended for human consumption, a detailed response, addressing the various points raised in the Article 228 reasoned opinion, issued to the Commission on 23 May 2007.