asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in respect of the 1992 European project and the completion of the internal market and in respect of the 279 directives which together comprise the legislative task necessary to give legal effect towards the completion of the internal market, he will give the following information in so far as it impacts upon his Department: (i) the number of directives that have been passed and the title of each directive so categorised (ii) the number of directives which remain to be passed and the title of each directive so categorised and (iii) the number of directives which have been passed, delayed or otherwise held up as a consequence of reservations entered by his Department; if, in respect of such delays or reservations he will give details of the Irish position; the action, if any, he proposes to take in order to ensure that the 1992 project is achieved and Ireland's interests are safeguarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - EC Directives on Internal Market.
I would refer the Deputy to the fourth Progress Report on completing the Internal Market for the agriculture and food sectors — `European' — which was prepared in September 1989 by my Department. A copy of this report has been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
The report deals individually with each proposal in the agriculture and food sector relating to the completion of the internal market setting out, among other things, the aim of the measure, main provisions and current position. One proposal has been adopted since compilation of the progress report i.e. Item A 2/12 — (`Council Directive on animal health conditions governing intra-community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species').
In summary the position todate in the agriculture and food sector is that 63 directives, eight Council decisions and one regulation have been adopted. Of the remaining measures 23 have been submitted to Council and a further 25 have yet to be presented to Council by the Commission.