Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 271: 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.1994/2238 on Ireland's failure to comply with the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) particularly in relation to the low level of sanctions foreseen for breaches of the rules adopted to give effect to Ireland's whole territory action programme; if he has followed through on the commitment given to the Commission to amend the enabling legislation and to revise the existing implementing regulations; and when the Government formally replied to the Commission's reasoned opinion. [19397/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I expect to be in a position shortly to make regulations in accordance with the European Communities Act 2007 to provide for increased penalties under the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006. The making of the regulations will facilitate the formal grant by the European Commission of a derogation to Ireland to allow farmers in appropriate circumstances to operate at levels above the prescribed limit of 170 kg nitrogen per hectare per annum in relation to the land spreading of livestock manure. A response to the Reasoned Opinion was issued on 11 June 2007.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Ireland is in full compliance with all its obligations under the EC Environmental Noise Directive on the assessment and management of exposure to environmental noise (2002/49/EC) including the obligation to prepare and forward to the European Commission strategic noise maps by 30 June 2007. [19408/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006) give effect in Ireland to EU Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise. The Environmental Protection Agency is the national authority with overall responsibility for implementing the Regulations. Implementation at local level is a matter for local authorities concerned, Dublin Airport Authority, the National Roads Authority, Iarnród Éireann and the Railway Procurement Agency.

The regulations require the preparation of strategic noise maps for areas and infrastructure falling within defined criteria, e.g. large agglomerations, and major roads, railways and airports. Article 10 of the 2006 Regulations requires certain noise maps, in respect of the largest agglomerations and infrastructure, to be made no later than 30 June 2007. Details of each map must be provided by the noise-mapping body concerned to the Environmental Protection Agency no later than one month after the date on which the map was made. Compliance with these requirements by the noise-mapping bodies concerned is a matter for the agency.

The reporting requirements under the Directive, which are set out in Article 10, are also a matter for the agency under the 2006 Regulations. The first report required under the Directive relates to the strategic noise maps to be made by 30th June 2007 and must be submitted by the agency to the European Commission within six months of that date.

In summary, the time scale for the reporting obligations is that noise maps must be sent to the agency by the end of July 2007 and forwarded to the Commission by the end of December 2007. There is no reason at this stage to believe that these deadlines will not be met.

The noise-mapping bodies will be responsible for making strategic noise maps and action plans available to the public.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 275: 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 2006/2485 relating to Ireland's failure to correctly transpose the Landfill of Waste Directive (Council directive 99/31/EC); and the main concerns being raised by the Commission in this case. [19416/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The letter of formal notice received from the European Commission concerns a number of technical issues regarding the transposition of the EU Landfill Directive. These matters have been given consideration by my Department and a response has issued setting out Ireland's current position. There has been no further correspondence from the Commission.