Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 902: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the negotiations between his Department and the European Commission over the Commission's investigation regarding the failure to carry out a strategic environmental assessment for the national development plan in accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC. [28486/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The European Commission sent a first letter of formal notice to Ireland in relation to this matter on 27 June 2007. Following consultation between relevant Departments and the Attorney General's Office, Ireland's response issued on 27 September 2007. The Commission issued a second letter of formal notice on 3 April 2008. Ireland's response to this letter is due to issue on or before 18 July 2008.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 903: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the negotiations between his Department and the European Commission over the transportation into Irish Law of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Directive. [28487/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) as amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/108/EC of 8 December 2003 was transposed into Irish Law on 5 July 2005 by the Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 340 of 2005).

The WEEE take back scheme, which can into effect on 13 August 2005, has been a remarkable success. 37,812 tonnes of household WEEE was collected during 2007, a 20% increase over the 2006 collection rate. This represents approximately 6.7 million electrical and electronic products or 8.7kg per inhabitant. This is over double the 4 Kgs target the WEEE Directive requires Ireland to achieve by the end of 2008 and indicates widespread public support for the scheme.

In April 2008, the European Commission issued a letter of formal notice concerning some aspects of Ireland's transposition of the Directive. A detailed response has been issued to the Commission.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 904: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the negotiations between his Department and the European Commission's ongoing concerns regarding micro-biological breaches of the Drinking Water Directive. [28488/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I recently met with Commissioner Dimas, and confirmed to him my intention to resolve all outstanding drinking water quality issues within the earliest possible timescale. My Department and the European Commission are engaged in ongoing consultation on this matter.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 905: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the negotiations between his Department and the European Commission regarding the Government's compliance with the European Court of Justice ruling in case C-494-01 on Ireland's application of the waste Framework Directive, specifically with regard to the Commission's requests for further information on clean-up operations at specific sites in Counties Waterford, Carlow, Laois, Wicklow, Limerick and Louth. [28489/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A formal response by Ireland to the judgement of European Court of Justice issued to the European Commission in October 2005 detailing the measures being taken to ensure compliance with the provisions of Council Directive 75/42/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991. There has been subsequent correspondence and bilateral meetings have been held with the Commission by way of clarifying aspects of Ireland's response.

The latest letter issued on 13 June 2008 to the Commission and included updates on the various waste sites, including those specifically referred to in the question. A further meeting with the Commission is expected to take place in the Autumn to consider any then outstanding matters.