Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding Ireland's steps to comply with the Environment Noise Directive 2002/49/EC; and if he will provide information regarding noise from major roads as required by the Directive. [25924/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Environmental Noise Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 140 of 2006) gives 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.

On noise from major roads, I refer to the reply to Question No. 375 of 17 October, 2007.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps taken by Ireland to ratify the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters in view of the fact that Ireland is the only EU country not to have ratified the convention. [25926/07]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps taken by Ireland to transpose the EU Directive on public participation into Irish law. [25927/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal with public access to environmental information (2003/4/EC) and public participation in certain environmental decision-making procedures (2003/35/EC).

Regulations transposing the European Communities (Access to information on the Environment) Directive 2003/4/EC were signed and came into effect on 1 May 2007.

The process to transpose Directive 2003/35/EC is well advanced with legislation completed to amend the majority of the relevant consent systems. The remaining work on the outstanding consent systems will be completed at the earliest possible date.

Having regard to the above, I will ensure that the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention is submitted to Government and laid before the Dáil as soon as possible.