Skip to main content
Normal View

JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT, CULTURE AND THE GAELTACHT debate -
Tuesday, 31 Jan 2012

Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals

As there are a number of EU legislative proposals to deal with I will refer to them. COM (2011) 593 is a Council directive laying down basic standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation. This proposal warrants further scrutiny and therefore it is proposed to write to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to ask for the formal views and concerns of the Department regarding the proposal, the level of formal engagement the Department has with the Department of Health and the health and safety aspects regarding the proposal of COM (2011) 385, which proposes separate legal requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. It is proposed that the committee be kept informed of the developments as they arise. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 824 is a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on ground handling services at Union airports and repealing Council Directive 96/67/EC. The lead Department is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. This proposal warrants further scrutiny and it is proposed to write to the Department, asking the formal views on the proposal, the implications envisaged for Ireland, specifically regarding the possible change in employment conditions of ground handling staff, a summary of initial feedback from the main stakeholders and that the committee be kept informed of the developments as they arise. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 828 is a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of rules and procedures regarding introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports with a balanced report and repealing Directive 2002/30/EC of the European Parliament and the Council. The lead Department is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the other Department involved is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. This proposal warrants further scrutiny and it is proposed to write to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to ask the formal views of the Department regarding the proposal; what airports will be affected and what specific implications are foreseen for those airports; what consultation, if any, the Department has had with airlines and stakeholders in the airline industry regarding the proposal; and to be kept informed of developments as they arise. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 385 is a Council Directive laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. The lead Department is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. This proposal does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 518 is a Council regulation establishing a community system for registration of carriers of radioactive materials. This proposal does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 591 is a Council decision establishing the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union with regard to proposals for amending appendices 1 and 2 to the convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties. The lead Department is the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and this proposal does not warrant any further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 710 is a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards driving licences which include the functionality of driver card. The lead Department is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

I would like to bring to the negotiation table the idea that the opt-out service for donor cards would be integrated with the driving licence. There would be significant benefits in this, especially for organ donors, if the licence would mean that people opt into the programme. There could be a special licence to opt out. Section 14 within the format indicates how EU law requires that a new format licence be introduced by 19 January 2013, and we should put it to the Minister that an opt-out policy for organ donation cards should be integrated into the driver card.

It is proposed that this is agreed with the amending suggestion from Deputy Humphreys. Is that agreed? Agreed. COM (2011) 783 is a Council regulation on Union support for the nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia.

This refers to three countries, with a figure of €3 billion. I recommend that we also consider the nuclear waste currently stored in Cork under this provision. I propose that we write to the Minister to request that.

It is proposed that this be agreed and that the further information requested by Deputy Humphreys be sought. Is that agreed? Agreed. COM (2011) 814 is a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council regarding implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation systems. This proposal does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 841 is a Council regulation establishing an instrument for nuclear safety and co-operation. The lead Department is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. This proposal does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 874 is a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the establishment of a programme for the environment and climate action life. The lead Department is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and the other Department is the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Is this regulation agreed? Agreed. That completes our consideration of the regulations.

Top
Share