Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 3

Written Answers. - Implementation of EC Directive.

Andrew Boylan

Ceist:

20 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he intends taking to strengthen the regulations on environmental impact assessment to comply with the commitment given to the European Commission following the criticisms of Ireland's transposition of Directive 85/337/EEC.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

115 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he intends taking to strengthen the regulations on environmental impact assessment to comply with the commitment given to the European Commission following the criticisms of Ireland's transposition of Directive 85/337/EEC.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 115 together.

Detailed legal provision has been made for the implementation in this country of Directive 85/337/EEC on Environmental Impact Assessment and effective procedures have been established to subject a wide range of development proposals to EIA.

The EC Commission raised a number of matters concerning implementation of the Directive, most of which were of a minor or technical character. A full response has been transmitted to the Commission and, in a spirit of co-operation, this indicated a willingness to make a number of adjustment to the implementing legal provisions. Some of these were effected in the comprehensive new regulations under the Planning Acts which I made earlier this month. Others will be pursued, as necessary, in the light of any further communication from the Commission.