I propose to take Questions Nos. 625, 628 and 629 together.
I am keenly aware of the importance of timely transposition and effective implementation of EU environmental legislation. Some 200 pieces of EU environmental legislation, including more than 140 directives, have by now been transposed and, more recently, external legal and drafting expertise has been utilised in order to expedite this.
The European Commission has power to take infringement proceedings against member states where it considers that legislation has not been transposed or has been improperly transposed. In line with this prerogative, the Commission raises issues in correspondence with member states, and if agreement is not reached on how to address the issue, may take a case to the European Court of Justice. My Department is in ongoing communication with the Commission on a range of issues at any given time and in addition meets regularly with Commission officials to identify how issues of non-compliance can best be addressed. High priority is being given to addressing outstanding issues in consultation with the Commission and relevant stakeholders.
The European Commission published its fifth annual survey on the implementation and enforcement of Community environmental law 2003 in July 2004. The report included a performance table of member states under three headings, relating to non-transposition, non-conformity and failure to implement derived or secondary obligations. Of the then 15 member states Ireland was ranked sixth best in relation to transposition, eighth in relation to conformity and 15th in relation to the implementation of derived or secondary obligations.
My Department, through the local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, continues to work towards maintaining a high level of environmental protection for Ireland. To strengthen implementation structures, the office of environmental enforcement, OEE, has been established, with roles in direct enforcement action, in providing support and guidance for local authority enforcement efforts, and in pursuing those local authorities whose enforcement performance requires improvement. Ongoing EPA participation in IMPEL, an informal network of European regulators concerned with the implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation, also assists in this work.