Vol. 513 No. 3
89 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the EU directives for which her Department has responsibility which have to be implemented; the directives in respect of which the EU Commission has taken legal action or opened infringement proceedings against Ireland for non-implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2323/00]
My Department has responsibility for implementing the EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and the EU Birds Directive 79/49/EEC and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that both these directives are being implemented. However, the EU Commission initiated legal action against Ireland for failure to transmit a list of special areas of conservation as required under the EU Habitats Directive. I have since transmitted 236 sites to the Commission, but the list is still incomplete and the legal action is proceeding.
In addition a reasoned opinion has been issued in respect of overgrazing, particularly in regard to the Owenduff-Nephin Beg site in the context of the birds Directive. Despite a full response outlining steps taken to deal with the matter, I have recently been informed that the Commission intends to pursue legal action.
In addition, Directive 89/552/EEC as amended by Directive 097/36/EC, Television Without Frontiers, promotes the free flow of broadcasting services across national boundaries by means of cable and other transmission systems. A reasoned opinion dated 9 July 1999 was issued by the European Commission against Ireland for non-implementation of Directive 89/552/EEC as amended by Directive 97/36/EC.
