Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the planned legislation transposing the outstanding elements of the strategic environmental assessment directive (2001/42/EC). [30787/10]

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The European Commission has issued a reasoned opinion against Ireland alleging that Ireland's transposition of the SEA Directive through the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations, 2004 and the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2004, is deficient in certain respects.

While Ireland has always maintained that the Directive's provisions are fully reflected in national legislation, we have indicated a willingness, for the avoidance of doubt, to make certain amendments to the relevant primary legislation and to supporting regulations. A number of these amendments will be effected through the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009, which has been passed by the Dáil and will be enacted before the Summer recess. The amendments to regulations will be advanced by my Department once work on the Bill is finalised.