EU Directives.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2006

Wednesday, 4 October 2006

Questions (134)

Trevor Sargent

Question:

223 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the directive name, directive reference number and number of cases where Ireland has been formally cautioned under Article 226 of the Treaty of the European Community, issued a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the treaty of the European Community, the Commission has declared its intention to go the European Court of Justice, taken to the European Court of Justice by the Commission, formally cautioned under Article 228 of the Treaty of the European Community, issued a reasoned opinion under Article 228 and issued with daily fines by the European Court of Justice in regard to environmental protection. [31092/06]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

In areas for which my Department has responsibility, the European Commission is currently in correspondence in respect of 34 cases relating to possible infringements of EU environmental legislation. There were 49 such cases in December 2005. This considerable improvement illustrates the positive outcomes from my intensive efforts to resolve issues in dialogue with the Commission and stakeholders. The cases are at various stages of proceedings as set out in the table below. Fines have not been ordered by the European Court of Justice in relation to any case taken against Ireland.

	Stage in Proceedings
Directive Number and General Reference	Article 226 Letter of Formal Notice Article 226 Reasoned Opinion Being Referred to the European Court of Justice Before the European Court of Justice for a hearing or awaiting judgement European Court of Justice Decision to be Implemented Article 228 Letter of Formal Notice
2004/ 26/EC on emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery	010000
2002/88/EC relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery	010000
2004/42/CE on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products	010000
85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment	310300
2000/35/EEC on public participation in certain plans and programmes relating to the environment	001000
2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information	001000
92/43/EEC on habitats	010101
79/409/EEC on wild birds	000101
75/442/EEC the waste directive	421010
75/439/EEC on the disposal of waste oils	100000
2004/12/EC on packaging and packaging waste	100000
91/271/EEC on urban waste water treatment	010100
91/676/EEC on nitrates	000001
76/464/EEC on dangerous substances in water	000001
80/778/EEC on the quality of drinking water for human consumption	100001
80/68/EC on groundwater	000100

Question No. 224 answered with QuestionNo. 191.