Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the proposed EU soil directive; the main elements of the proposal; if an evaluation of its impact on Ireland has been completed; the conclusions of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19665/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The European Commission's proposal for a directive establishing a framework for the protection of soil was considered at the Environment Council meeting of 20 December 2007 and did not have sufficient Member State support to achieve a political agreement. The proposed Directive has the objective of establishing a common strategy for the protection and sustainable use of soil based on the principles of integration of soil concerns into other policies, preservation of soil functions within the context of sustainable use, prevention of threats to soil and mitigation of such effects, as well as restoration of degraded soils to a level of functionality consistent at least with the current and approved future use. An assessment of the potential impacts for Ireland will focus on any revised proposals to emerge.