Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cases being taken by the European Union against Ireland in relation to Ireland's failure to transpose or implement European Union directives in environmental law in tabular form; the stages these cases are at; if fines are pending in relation to judgments against Ireland for breaches of environmental law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42966/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is currently in correspondence in respect of 31 cases relating to transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation. The following table lists the directives involved and indicates the various stages of proceedings in respect of these cases.

The Commission made a decision on 29 October 2009 to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice for an imposition of fines in relation to the directive on the quality required of shellfish waters, while deferring such referral for three months. Ireland has never been fined by the EU for an environmental infringement and I am confident that all outstanding aspects of this case will be completed to the satisfaction of the Commission within the timescale allowed for addressing the outstanding issues.