asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland is the only country which did not supply any information on the environment to the Commission in connection with the proposals adopted by the Council on 7th November, 1974.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Protection of the Environment.
29.
As the Deputy has already had replies to his Questions Nos. 53 and 59 on 28th October, 1975, columns 339/340 and 343/344 of the Official Report of 28th October, 1975, relating to the implementation of the proposals adopted by the Council of Ministers on 7th November, 1974, I must assume that he is referring to the provisions of the agreement of the representatives of the Governments of the member States meeting in Council of 5th March, 1973 on information for the Commission and for the member States with a view to possible harmonisation throughout the Communities of urgent measures concerning the protection of the environment. This agreement provides that the Commission shall be informed by the member States of proposed legislative, regulatory or administrative measures or international initiatives relating to the environment which could affect the functioning of the common market or are relevant to the Communities' environment action programme. In accordance with the agreement, Ireland has notified proposed legislation, the Wildlife Bill, 1975, to the Commission. Future proposals which appear to come within the scope of the agreement will be notified to the Commission in the same way.
I am not sure whether I have been answered or not. I understand that each of the other countries supplied information and made submissions and that Ireland was the only one that neglected to do so. I was wondering if there was any special reason. Is it because we are awaiting the Wildlife Bill?
I cannot trace exactly what the Deputy is referring to because his question is expressed in very general terms. The only thing I could find that seemed to be possibly related to the Deputy's question is the case I have mentioned which requires us to notify legislative, regulatory or administrative measures or international initiatives relating to the environment which could affect the functioning of the Common Market or are relevant to the Communities' environment action programme. The only thing we have got to notify is the Wildlife Bill, 1975. We notify what we have got to notify and we cannot do more than that.
This is just a complaint I received.
If the Deputy would give me more details, I would look into it further.
I would have to look it up again.