Vol. 404 No. 6
171 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment whether he supports the adoption by the EC of the draft waste liability directive; whether he has any proposals to amend the directive; and in particular whether he will propose an amendment to include nuclear waste in the definition of waste in Article 1 (2) of the draft directive.
172 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will undertake a study of the effect of the draft waste liability directive on costs in the economy and existing legal rules in Ireland.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
Consideration by the EC Council of Ministers of the proposal for a directive on civil liability for damage caused by waste is at a preliminary stage. Ireland, in common with other member states, has expressed certain reservations about the concept of liability proposed in the draft directive. Major revision of the proposal appears likely before it can be adopted.
