Vol. 401 No. 4
205 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment the progress which was made during the Irish Presidency of the EC to secure the adoption of a comprehensive new EC Directive setting strict emission standards for all cars; and when he expects this Directive will be adopted.
The draft consolidated Directive on the control of vehicle emissions was discussed at the two meetings of the Council of Environment Ministers held during Ireland's Presidency of the European Communities and progress was made in resolving some of the major outstanding issues. As this draft Directive is one to which the co-operation procedure with the European Parliament applies, it requires two readings in Parliament before it can be adopted. Since the Parliament has not delivered its first opinion on the draft Directive, it was not possible for the Council to reach a common position on it at its June meeting. At that meeting, however, the Council, after stressing the importance it attached to the rapid adoption of the Directive, asked the European Parliament to adopt its opinion by the urgent procedure, so that the Council will be in position to take a decision at its next meeting in October 1990.
206 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment if the proposed regulations on vehicle emission standards have been drafted; and when they will be published.
It is intended to have a discussion paper on this subject published shortly with a view to having appropriate regulations made by the end of the year.
