Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2004
72 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the current position with regard to the promised regulations concerning end of life vehicles; when the regulations will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12236/04]
View answer139 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position concerning the legal proceedings against Ireland which have been initiated by the European Commission for the non-implementation of EU Directive 2000/53/EC regarding end of life vehicles; if he will report on his discussions with the three stakeholder groups (details supplied) about this directive; the number of authorised treatment facilities he expects will be available; and when these facilities will come on stream. [12415/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 139 together.
Member states were required to transpose the provisions of European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/53/EC on end of life vehicles, ELVs, into national legislation by 21 April 2002. That was within 18 months of the adoption of the directive on 21 October 2000. My Department has been actively engaged with the Society for the Irish Motor Industry, SIMI, the Irish Motor Vehicle Recyclers Association, IMVRA, the Metal Recyclers Association of Ireland, MRAI, and other stakeholders since before the adoption of the directive with regard to its effective implementation. The delay in transposing and implementing the directive is primarily due to difficulties encountered in reaching agreement with the relevant sectors on the detailed mechanisms for the operation of the free ELV take back arrangements required, including how such arrangements will be funded.
The legal proceedings initiated by the European Commission against Ireland in this matter relate to partial transposition into national legislation and non-implementation of the directive provisions. In this regard, enabling provisions to facilitate implementation of the directive were incorporated in the Protection of the Environment Act 2003. It is intended to make regulations later this year fully transposing the directive provisions and facilitating its full implementation in 2005. It is not possible to indicate at this stage how many authorised treatment facilities will participate in the free ELV take back scheme facilitating the environmentally sound treatment and recovery of vehicles concerned.
