Legislative Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 January 2008

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Questions (761)

Dr Martin Mansergh

Question:

828 Deputy Martin Mansergh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of Acts passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas sponsored by her Department in each year from 2003 to 2007; the Acts which were legislation wholly or mainly required by Ireland’s EU obligations, which were partly so required, and which had no significant or minimal reference to EU legislation; and if in the first two cases Ireland had significant discretion, as to the manner in which EU obligations were translated into domestic law. [1190/08]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Mary Coughlan)

Details of the Acts sponsored by my Department between 2003 and 2007 are as follows:

Year	Number of Acts	Name of Act
2003	1	Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003
2004	2	An Bord Bia (Amendment) Act 2004 Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2004
2005	3	Veterinary Practice Act 2005 Land Act 2005 Maritime Safety Act 2005
2006	1	Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006
2007	0	None

Most of the Acts mentioned in the table were enacted to introduce national measures. However, section 43 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, which replaced the Veterinary Surgeons Acts 1931 to 1960, has a provision for Compliance with European Union requirements. This section continues in force the obligations that were contained in the repealed legislation. The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 and the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 set out the framework for the regulation of sea fisheries and the enforcement of sea fisheries law and sea food safety law. Sea Fisheries are managed and regulated under the EU Common Fisheries Policy. The Acts provide the national framework for implementation and compliance with that policy. The Deputy may also wish to note that an amendment to the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 and the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 was included in Criminal Justice Act 2007, which was sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.