Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of EU directives within his Department that have not been acted upon; if he will provide a list of same; and the deadlines on them. [38558/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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There is currently one EU Directive within my Department's area of responsibility – Directive 2009/30/EC regarding the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil - which has certain provisions still to be transposed into Irish law. With the exception of Article 1(5) of Directive 2009/30/EC, which provides for the insertion of Article 7a into Directive 98/70/EC regarding the quality of petrol and diesel fuels, the European Communities Act, 1972 (Environmental Specifications for Petrol, Diesel Fuels and Gas Oils for use by non-road mobile machinery, including inland waterway vessels, agricultural and forestry tractors, and recreational craft) Regulations 2011 and European Communities Act 1972 (Sulphur Content of Heavy Fuel Oil, Gas Oil, and Marine Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 transposed Directive 2009/30/EC into Irish law on 31 March 2011. I understand that there are ongoing discussions within the European Commission concerning comitology provisions and the methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emission reductions and I expect that transposition of Article 7a into Irish law will follow resolution of this matter.

In addition, some elements of Directive 2009/30/EC mirror similar provisions of Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of energy use from renewable resources, which falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Transposition of those provisions of the Directive are a matter for his Department.

My Department is currently preparing transposing regulations in respect of two Directives which are due to be transposed by the end of 2011. In respect of Directive 2009/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 on Stage II petrol vapour recovery during re-fuelling of motor vehicles at service stations, my Department conducted a public consultation, during September and October 2011, on the proposed introduction of the Directive provisions and all submissions are currently being examined with a view to finalising and making the transposing Statutory Instrument later this month. I also expect to make the transposition regulations in the coming weeks in respect of Directive 2011/37/EU of 30 March 2011, amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on end-of-life vehicles.