Vol. 566 No. 4
153 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason his Department has failed to co-operate with an EU investigation into alleged ground water contamination in the north Cork area; if the EU has now launched formal proceedings against Ireland as a result of this failure; if it is intended to provide the co-operation sought by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12974/03]
The EU Commission has initiated legal proceedings against Ireland concerning the implementation of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste. The Chief State Solicitor has written to the European Court of Justice to request an oral hearing in the matter. As this matter is now sub judice it is not appropriate at this stage to comment further on the issues involved in the case. However, it is the policy of my Department to fully co-operate and assist the EU Commission in the processing of complaints made to it.
