Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 1

Written Answers. - Legislative Proposals.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

186 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposed statutory instruments being prepared in, or under the auspices of, his Department; the proposed effect of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13262/99]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

187 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals for legislation being prepared under the auspices of his Department where heads have not yet been approved by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13277/99]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

188 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals for legislation being prepared under the auspices of his Department where heads have been approved by Government; the expected date of publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13295/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Question Nos. 186 to 188, inclusive, together.

The following Statutory Instruments are under preparation in my Department: regulations to set water quality standards for a range of dangerous substances on foot of obligations arising under the Dangerous Substances Directive (76/464/EEC); regulations to provide for the designation of vulnerable zones under the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC); regulations to give effect to Directive 98/15/EC on urban waste water treatment; Irish Water Safety Association (Establishment) Order – to establish a separate body to provide water safety in Ireland; Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Bill, 1999 (Section 6) Order 1999 – to specify a local authority as a specified local authority for the purposes of the Bill; Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Bill, 1999 (Section 25) Order 1999 – to enable research relating to the electronic methods of recording votes on ballot papers by electors and counting of such votes; Local Elections (Forms) Regulations, 1999 – to prescribe forms for furnishing election expenditure statements under the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Bill, 1999; Electoral Act, 1992 (Section 165) Regulations, 1999 – to make pro vision in relation to holding the referendum, European elections and local elections on the same day; regulations to provide for local authority licensing commercial waste collectors; regulations to provide for licensing of mobile waste recovery plant; regulations to provide for the authorisation of specified waste recovery activities involving beneficial use of dredge and construction spoils; regulations to prohibit the marketing of specified batteries and accumulators; regulations dealing with the emissions of gaseous and particulate pollutants from engines in non-road mobile machines-transposing Directive 97/68/EC; regulations dealing with the quality of petrol and diesel fuels – transposing Directive 98/70/EC; regulations to provide for the payment of grants in respect of the provision or improvement of individual water supplies to houses and group water and sewerage schemes; regulations to implement recommendations addressed directly to the Department in the report of the Dublin Taxi Forum; regulations to implement requirements of Directives 91/439/EEC and 97/26/EC dealing with driver licensing; regulations to provide for the entry into service requirements for new vehicles in accordance with Directive 98/69/EC and Directive 98/77/EC; regulations to provide for an increase in the fees chargeable by authorised testers for carrying out tests under the commercial vehicle testing scheme; regulations to provide for additional provisions in relation to the car testing scheme to be introduced in January 2000; regulations to provide for the compulsory plating of certain vehicles with their maximum weights and dimensions; regulations to provide for increases in the maximum permitted weight of certain vehicles in international traffic and to amend the national vehicle height limit; regulations to provide for the administrative arrangements relating to the plating of certain vehicles with their maximum weights and dimensions; regulations to permit the use of flashing amber warning lights on agricultural tractors and certain slow moving vehicles; regulations to provide for the inclusion of Slovenia and Croatia in the definition of the "designated territories" by virtue of both countries becoming parties to the Multilateral Guarantee Agreement Between National Insurers' Bureaux.

The information requested regarding primary legislation is set out in the following tables:

Proposals for Legislation not yet published – Heads approved by Government

Title	Purpose of Bill	Expected Publication Date
Local Government Bill, 1999	To modernise local government legislation and implement a range of reform measures (four tranches of Heads approved by Government, one tranche yet to be approved)	Autumn 1999
Planning and Development Bill, 1999.	Revision Bill including the results of the review of Planning Acts, consolidated with all other provisions of the Planning Acts 1963 to 1998.	Mid 1999

Proposals for Legislation not yet published – Heads not yet approved by Government

Title	Purposes of Bill
Environmental Protection Agency (Amendment) Bill	To update legislation in relation to the Environmental Protection Agency
Registration of Building Professions Bill	To provide for the registration of the title of “Architect” and “Surveyor“
Road Traffic Bill,	To provide for changes in road traffic legislation to implement aspects of the Road Safety Strategy and certain other matters.
Water Services Bill	To consolidate and update water services legislation.