Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

John Bruton

Question:

282 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a number of EU directives (details supplied) which he informed Dáil Éireann in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 241 of 20 November 2001, would be implemented in December 2001 have been implemented; and if the directives in question have not been implemented in accordance with the commitments he gave to Dáil Éireann on 20 November 2001, the reasons for this; and the context of the specific content and firm nature of his response to the parliamentary question of 20 November 2001. [1417/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Of the eight EU directives referred to in Question No. 241 of 20 November 2001 which I indicated were expected to be implemented by December 2001, five were implemented as follows: Directive 98/8/EC – implemented on 18 December by S.I. No. 625 of 2001; Directive 2000/77/EC – implemented on 19 December by S.I. No. 655 of 2001; Directive 2001/39/EC – implemented on 18 December by S.I. Nos. 620, 621 and 622 of 2001; Directive 2001/47/EC – implemented on 18 December by S.I. No. 623 of 2001; Directive 2001/21/EC – implemented on 18 December by S.I. No. 623 of 2001.

Draft statutory instruments for the implementation of Directives 2000/37/EC and 99/74/EC are undergoing final checking procedures and are now expected to be adopted by the end of February. I am making arrangements to ensure that the remaining directive, 2000/75/EC, laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of blue tongue, is implemented as quickly as possible.

The implementation dates referred to in my reply of 20 November 2001 represented expected or estimated dates of implementation. It was not possible to meet the expected date in each case because of the need to resolve legal issues arising and also due to other work demands on the staff concerned.