Vol. 525 No. 2
327 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will detail, from the time of the present Dáil, the fin ancial penalties imposed on the Government resulting from the failure of his Department to comply with EU directives; and the legal proceedings that are now pending by the EU as a result of the failure of his Department to comply with EU directives. [24137/00]
No financial penalties have been imposed for failure by my Department to comply with EU directives. Legal proceedings were initiated by the European Commission on 21 May 1999 for failure to give legal effect to Council Directive 96/43/EC (financing of veterinary inspections and controls on live animals and certain animal products) within the prescribed periods. Although a statutory instrument to give legal effect to the directive was subsequently adopted, the Court of Justice deemed that, by failing to adopt the measure within the prescribed periods, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations and was consequently liable for legal costs. Legal proceedings were also initiated by the European Commission on 28 April 2000 for failure to give legal effect to Council Directive 96/24/EC, Council Directive 96/25/EC and Commission Directive 98/67/EC (animal feedingstuffs). The Commission discontinued the proceedings on 11 September 2000 following notification that the necessary statutory instruments had been adopted. In this case also, Ireland was deemed by the Court of Justice to be liable for the costs. The legal costs have not yet been quantified in either of these cases.
There are no legal proceedings pending.
