Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions his Department is taking to ensure timely implementation of EU directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24435/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is proactive in ensuring that good performance on the transposition of Directives is consistently maintained. Within my Department transposition is monitored through a customised intranet database which is used as a central management and information tool to track the implementation of Directives on an ongoing basis. This complements the central tracking and monitoring of transpositions carried out by the Department of the Taoiseach. The EU Presidency Planning Committee of my Department also tracks the position on transposition and regular updates are provided to the Management Board of my Department.

A total of 4 Directives require to be transposed by my Department up to the end of 2013. One Directive is recently overdue since 11^th May 2013, Directive 2010/32/EU on implementing the Framework agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and health care sector. A number of issues arose late in the legal settlement process and further engagement was required on a technical matter with the Commission which meant that the transposition deadline for this Directive could not be met. It is hoped to be in a position to complete the transposition of this Directive at an early date. A full list of Directives to be transposed up to 2015 is provided on my Department's website at .

In the Spring 2013 Internal Market Scoreboard, across Government, we achieved a first place in the EU for successfully transposing all Directives within the given timeframes.

I will continue to give a high level of political commitment to the ongoing monitoring and management of the transposition of EU Directives within my Department.