Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2010
135 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the services directive; the impact this will have on the Casual Trading Act particularly in the context of Article 12 of the services directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10901/10]
View answerThe Regulations to bring the Services Directive [Directive 2006/123/EC] into law are well advanced. My Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with a view to completing the legislation as soon as possible.
The regulation of casual trading by local authorities under the Casual Trading Act, 1995 is an "authorisation scheme" under the terms of the Directive. Therefore the obligations imposed by the Directive fall to be carried out by the local authorities. Article 12 of the Directive is concerned with the selection of candidates for authorisations (or in this context casual trading licences) in a situation where authorisations are limited for whatever reason. A selection procedure for choosing authorisations have to be devised by local authorities which must be impartial and transparent. It is a matter for each local authority to devise such selection procedures.
