Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Finance when he will transpose the EU floods directive into law; the reason he has decided to transpose it by way of statutory instrument without recourse to the normal parliamentary process for primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4591/10]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risk is primarily concerned with the assessment and management of flood risks, with the aim of reducing adverse consequences for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity associated with floods in the European Community.

There is a strong degree of alignment between the recommendations of the report of the flood policy review group of 2004 and the requirements of the EU floods directive. The outputs from the flood mapping and flood risk assessment and management studies programme, which commenced on foot of the national flood policy, adopted by Government in 2004, will also satisfy the requirements of the floods directive. Accordingly, the process of implementing the flood risk assessment programmes under national policy is taking place in conjunction with the transposition of the floods directive into Irish law.

The Statutory Instrument to transpose the directive is being examined by the Attorney General and I expect it to be transposed in the next few weeks.