I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 11 together.
Preparation for the implementation of EU directives in the transport field by the three operating companies within the CIÉ group is a matter for the board and management of CIÉ.
Under the terms of Council Directive 91/440, railway undertakings are entitled to limited access and transit rights across the frontiers of member states. The directive provides for rights of access and transit for international passenger and goods services operated by international groupings of railway undertakings. It provides the same access and transit rights for railway undertakings operating international combined transport goods services. The access provisions of the directive were transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument 204 of 1996.
Two further directives have been adopted supplementing Directive 91/440. These related to the licensing of railway undertakings, the allocation of rail infrastructure capacity and the charging of fees for infrastructure use. Both directives are due to come into force on 28 June this year. The method of transposal of these directives into Irish law is being examined by my Department in consultation with the Attorney General.
In addition to these directives, my Department is pursuing the transposition of Directive 96/49 concerning the approximation of the laws of member states with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by rail. In effect, that directive enshrines in EU law the provisions of an international agreement on the regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods by rail, usually known as RID. It requires that the RID standards should also apply to domestic rail operations.
Two instruments in the bus sector are currently going through the EU legislative process. These are a proposed regulation replacing Regulation 2454/92 on cabotage in international bus operations and an amendment to Regulation 684/94 concerning the rules for international bus passenger operations. These proposals provide for a further limited measure of liberalisation in international bus transport.
While the degree of liberalisation to date in the public transport sector is limited, it is clear from repeated statements by the Commission and from its 1996 White Paper on the revitalisation of the community's railways, that the coming years will see a step by step liberalisation and intensified competition in the public transport sector generally.
Liberalisation is well established in the aviation and road haulage sectors and is proceeding rapidly in the telecommunications sector. Significant progress towards liberalisation is also being made in other sectors, including energy. The public transport sector cannot hope to avoid similar liberalisation and there is no reason it should. It is essential, therefore, that the CIÉ group prepares itself adequately to meet these changing circumstances.The Government has set out its mandate for CIÉ very clearly, most recently in my Department's statement of strategy.
I mentioned this earlier during our discussion about Dublin Bus so I will not take up the time of the House and anticipate supplementary questions by elaborating further. I have indicated the measures being taken to bring the relevant provisions of European Union law into operation in this country.