Vol. 499 No. 1
647 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the resources and personnel available to transpose EU directives into Irish law; if he has satisfied himself with the rate of progress of this implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1621/99]
694 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the EU directives coming wholly or partly under the aegis of his Department which are not currently fully implemented; the reference numbers and subject matter of each directive; the deadline for implementation set out in each directive; if he will implement the directives by means of a Bill or Statutory Instrument; and when he will implement the directives in this regard. [1559/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 694 together.
Transposition of EU directives into Irish law arises in the context of a range of responsibilities and functions in my Department. It is not practicable separately to identify the resources and personnel involved, as this work is an integral part of the Department's activities. The rate of progress is generally satisfactory; in this regard the most recent Commission report on monitoring the application of Community legislation confirmed that, at 31 December 1997, Ireland had implemented 98 per cent of directives applicable to the environment.
Directives under the aegis of my Department which have not been fully transposed are set out in the following table:
| Ref. No. | Subject | Date of Adoption | Deadline forTransposition | Mode ofTransposition | Current Position |
| 76/464/EEC | Establishment of water quality standards for certain dangerous substances under the Dangerous Substances Directive | 4/5/76 | No deadline specified in Directive | S.I. | Water quality standards for phosphorous were set in July 1998. Statutory provision in respect of additional substances will be made this year in light of recommendations by the EPA |
| Ref. No. | Subject | Date of Adoption | Deadline forTransposition | Mode ofTransposition | Current Position |
| 80/68/EEC | Protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances | 17/12/79 | 19/12/81 | S.I. | Directive is substantially implemented. The final outstanding aspect will be transposed by regulations to be made in early 1999 |
| 91/439/EEC | Driving Licences | 29/7/91 | 1/7/96 | S.I. | Majority of provisions already implemented; balance to be implemented in 1999 |
| 91/676/EEC | Designation of vulnerable zones under the Nitrates Directive and related issues. | 12/12/91 | 19/12/93 | S.I. | Specific statutory provision will be made to supplement existing legislation and to ensure full transposition |
| 96/53/EC(Consolidated Text) | Plating of certain vehicles with their maximum weights and dimensions | 25/7/96 | 17/9/97 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 1999 |
| 96/53/EC(ConsolidatedText) | Increased weight limits for certain vehicles circulating in international traffic | 25/7/96 | 31/12/98 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 1999 |
| 96/61/EC | Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control | 24/9/96 | 29/10/99 | Primary Legislation | Will be implemented by means of amendment to EPA Act, 1992 |
| 96/62/EC | Ambient Air Quality Assessment and management | 27/9/96 | 21/5/98 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in the very near future to effect transposition of initial elements of Directive pending adoption by the EU of subsidiary Directives |
| 97/11/EC | Environmental Impact Assessment | 3/3/97 | 14/3/99 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 1999 |
| 97/26/EC | Driving Licences | 2/6/97 | 1/1/98 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 1999 |
| 97/68/EC | Air pollution by emissions from non-road mobile machinery | 16/12/97 | 30/6/98 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 1999 |
| 98/14/EC | Standards for new vehicles | 6/2/98 | 1/4/2000 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 2000 |
| 98/15/EC | Urban Waste Water Treatment | 27/2/98 | 30/9/98 | Regulation under EPA Act 1992 | Regulations to be made in early 1999 |
| 98/69/EC | Standards for new vehicles | 13/10/98 | 1/1/2001 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 2000 |
| Ref. No. | Subject | Date of Adoption | Deadline forTransposition | Mode ofTransposition | Current Position |
| 98/70/EC | Environmental fuel standards to reduce emissions from petrol and diesel fuels (Auto Oil Programme) | 13/10/98 | 1/7/99 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 1999 |
| 98/77/EC | Standards for new vehicles | 2/10/98 | 1/10/99 | S.I. | Regulations to be made in 1999 |
