Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

101 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total number of European Communities directives applicable to Ireland; the total number for which implementing measures have been reported to the European Commission; the comparative position of Ireland in relation to the other member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7090/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The position concerning the transposition of EC directives in the various member states is set out by the European Commission in its Annual Report on Monitoring the Application of Community Law. The most recent annual report is the eighteenth report published on 16 July 2001, which outlines the position as of 31 December 2000. Details of this report are available on the Commission's website at: www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/rpt/2001/com2001€0309en01.html.

As of 31 December 2000, 1,488 EC directives were applicable to Ireland and implementing measures in relation to 1,427 of these had been notified to the European Commission. This represents 95.90% of the total number of directives. The EU average for the transposal of directives as of 31 December 2000, was 96.59%. This is the highest rate achieved since 1992 and reflects an improvement in the situation in every member state.

Ireland ranks 11th of the 15 member states for the notification of measures implementing directives. The difference between the rate of transposition in Ireland and the next five member states immediately above Ireland was less than 1%. The rate of transposal of directives in Ireland, as of 31 December 2000 – which stood at 95.90% – represented an improvement of 1.77% on the rate as it stood on 31 December 1999, when the figure was 94.13%.