Vol. 472 No. 3
102 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of the situation regarding his obligation to transpose EU directives into Irish law further to his answer to Question No. 132 of 14 May 1996; the other directives, if any, which have arisen in the interim in the context of outlining the progress made in relation to the 12 directives named in his previous reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22930/96]
Directives 94/66/EC, 94/51/EC and 96/1/EC listed in the reply to Question No. 132 on 14 May 1996 have since been transposed into national legislation. An updated list, including directives which have been adopted in the interim, is set out in the following table:
|
Reference Number |
Subject |
Deadline for Transposition |
Date for Completion |
|
91/156/EEC |
Legislative framework for the controlled recovery and disposal of Waste. |
1 April 1993 |
End 1996-early 1997 under the Waste Management Act, 1996. |
|
91/689/EEC |
Hazardous Waste. |
27 June 1995 |
End 1996-early 1997 under the Waste Management Act, 1996. |
|
92/72/EEC |
The establishment of a harmonised procedure for monitoring, information exchange and public health warnings in relation to air pollution by ozone. |
21 March 1994 |
Need for implementing regulations now agreed with European Commission; the target date for this is early 1997. (Administrative arrangements already in place under Environmental Protection Agency/Met Eireann co-ordination.) |
|
92/69/EEC |
Measures relating to the permissible sound level and the exhaust system of motor vehicles. |
1 October 1996 |
Early 1997. |
|
94/62/EEC |
Packaging and packaging waste. |
30 June 1996 |
End 1996-early 1997 under the Waste Management Act, 1996. |
|
94/67/EC |
Incineration of hazardous waste. |
31 December 1996 |
End 1996-early 1997. |
|
94/63/EC |
The control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from storage of petrol and distribution from terminals to service stations. |
31 December 1995 |
Early 1997 following completion of consultations with Department of Enterprise and Employment and National Health and Safety Authority. |
|
95/59/EC |
Disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT). |
16 March 1998 |
By March 1998. |
|
96/62/EC |
Legislative framework for uniform assessment and management of ambient air quality throughout the EU. |
27 March 1998 |
By March 1998. |
|
96/61/EC |
Integrated pollution prevention and control. |
30 October 1999 |
By October 1999. |
|
96/69/EC |
The approximation of the laws of the member states relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles. |
21 November 1996 |
Early 1997. |
|
91/439/EEC |
Driving licences. |
1 July 1994 |
Early 1997. |
|
91/328/EEC |
Road worthiness testing of private cars. |
21 June 1993 |
Before 1 January 1998, the date on which the directive is to come into operation. |
|
86/364/EC |
Proof of compliance of heavy goods vehicles with EC weights and dimensions requirements while on EU international journeys. |
29 July 1987 |
By August 1997. |
|
94/23/EC |
Vehicle testing standards for braking systems. |
1 January 1997 |
By early 1997. |
|
96/53/EC |
The maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic for certain road vehicles circulating within the EU. |
17 September 1997. |
By August 1997. |
103 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment further to his reply to Question No. 83 of 2 October 1996, regarding the formulation of an EU directive on landfill, the date on which the Council of Ministers took its decision in relation to its recommendation of the draft rejected by the Parliament in May 1996; if a new draft has been discussed by the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22931/96]
The Environment Council of 8-9 June 1994 reached political agreement on a common position concerning the proposal for a Council directive on the landfill of waste. The Council formally adopted its common position on 6 October 1995. A new draft of this directive has not yet been presented by the Commission to the Council.
104 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment whether a discussion took place in relation to the auto oil programme which commenced in September 1996 and in relation to proposals for an EU directive on air pollution caused by emissions from motor vehicles and on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels, further to his answer to Question No. 129 of 8 October 1996 and in view of his promise to the Environment Council holding discussions on 15 October 1996; if so, the outcome of this discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22932/96]
The proposed EU directives on further measures against emissions from motor vehicles and new fuel quality standards, resulting from the EU auto oil programme, were the subject of an open debate at the October Environment Council. Arising from this, the proposals on vehicle emissions were referred to an expert group for detailed consideration. Both proposals will be the subject of a progress report to the Environment Council on 9-10 December 1996.
105 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment whether a discussion took place regarding a revised version of Council Directive 90/219/EEC of 23 October 1990 concerning the continued use of genetically modified microorganisms, further to his reply to Question No. 130 of 8 October 1996 and in view of his promise to the Environment Council holding discussions on 15 October 1996; if so, the outcome of such a discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22933/96]
At its meeting on 15 October 1996, the Council of Environment Ministers held a policy debate on key issues relating to the proposal to amend Council Directive 90/219/EEC. While a number of specific concerns remained to be addressed, I concluded that the level of support for the approach adopted, and progress achievied under the Irish Presidency, should enable the Council to reach an agreement on the proposal at its meeting on 9-10 December 1996.
106 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment whether a discussion took place regarding a revised version of Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 in respect of the quality of drinking water, further to his reply to Question No. 128 of 8 October 1996 and in view of his promise to the Environment Council holding discussions on 15 October 1996; if so, the outcome of such a discussion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22934/96]
On 15 October 1996 the Environment Council discussed a number of key issues arising under the proposal for a revised directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption. Issues discussed included: the proposed tightening of the standard for lead, the timetable and other aspects of implementation; procedures to deal with exceedances of the proposed water quality standards; provisions in relation to pesticides, and mutual recognition of drinking water quality throughout the Union.
