Frances Fitzgerald
Question:347 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the EU directives under the aegis of her Department that are outstanding and remain to be implemented in Irish law to date. [17979/00]
Written Answers. - EU Directives.
My Department is responsible for implementation of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. These directives were transposed into Irish law by means of the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds) Regulations, 1985 (S.I. No. 291 of 1985), and the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. No. 94/97).
The EU Commission has instituted legal proceedings against Ireland for the non-transmission of the full list of special areas of conservation required under the EU Habitats Directive.
When this Government came into office, 197 proposed candidate special areas of conservation had been publicly advertised, but no sites were formally transmitted to the EU Commission. I came to the conclusion that inadequate consultation with landowners had taken place and that sites should not be transmitted until this was remedied. I established an appeals advisory board, chaired by Mr. Michael Mills, the former Ombudsman, and consisting of equal representation from landowner and conservation organisations. I also encouraged the setting up of landowners' liaison committees.
I have since publicly advertised an additional 168 sites and formally transmitted 267 sites to the EU Commission. I anticipate that outstanding sites will be formally transmitted to the EU Commission by the end of the year. All sites receive full protection under national legislation once publicly advertised.
The EU Commission has also instituted legal proceedings against Ireland, arising from the terms of the birds directive, in respect of overgrazing, particularly in regard to the Owenduff/Nephin Beg site and the decline in the red grouse population. These proceedings are being vigorously defended.