Vol. 534 No. 4
77 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will confirm that the Government has received a letter of formal notice from the European Commission regarding Ireland's failure to provide reports on the implementation of the Wild Bird's Directive; the steps being taken to ensure that the reports required are forwarded to the Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10690/01]
I confirm that I have now received a formal letter of complaint from the European Commission regarding Ireland's failure to provide a three year report on the implementation of the Council Directive of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds – the Birds Directive. Article 12 of the directive provides that member states shall forward to the Commission a report on the implementation of the national provisions for the implementation of the directive in each member state.
The Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) has been implemented in Ireland through the provisions of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended, and the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. The directive provides for an extensive regulatory protection and conservation system for wild birds in member states. It also provides for the designation and protection of important wild bird habitats, special protection areas or SPAs. To date, 110 SPAs covering an area in excess of 200,000 hectares have been designated and notified to the Commission by Ireland.
The report required under Article 12 of the Birds Directive is currently in the course of preparation. The submission of the report has been delayed due to the concentration of staff resources in recent years on designation of sites under both the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. However, I have directed that priority should be given to the completion of the report and it will be submitted to the European Commission by the end of May.
