Vol. 500 No. 4
272 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, being made in drawing up an action plan for Ireland in relation to air quality as recommended by the EU Commissioner for the Environment in January 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3999/99]
On 10 February 1999 I made the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 33 of 1999). These regulations, transposing elements of EU Directive 96/62/EC, represent an important step in the setting up of a national structure for ambient air quality assessment and management and designate the Environmental Protection Agency as the competent authority in this regard. The agency will carry out a preliminary assessment of national air quality as the initial step in planning any measures necessary to maintain and improve ambient air quality and to meet requirements which will arise under a new series of EU directives on air quality.
