Vol. 444 No. 1
45 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to speed up the counting procedures following elections in view of the long period of time taken to conclude some recent Dáil and European counts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I would like to commend all the returning officers concerned for their diligence and efficiency in conducting the counts at the various elections held on 9 June. Given the relative complexity of our voting system, the counts were not inordinately long but I propose, in consultation with returning officers, to the process.
47 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment the position adopted by Ireland at the recent Council of Environmental Ministers meeting regarding the draft directive on packaging waste; if his attention has been drawn to the widespread criticism of what has been described as the emasculation of the directive as a result of lobbying by the packaging industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
, (Wexford): The Environment Council of 8/9 June 1994 considered a favourable resolution of the European Parliament on the proposal for a Council Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste; this included 19 amendments to the Common Position adopted by Council in December, 1993. The Common Position, as amended by Parliament, was generally acceptable to the Council and the European Commission, with the exception of one amendment proposed in respect of economic instruments. A proposal in relation to this amendment was put forward by the Commission as a necessary legal/drafting amendment and provided a satisfactory basis for resolving the concerns of most member states, including Ireland.
Council consideration of this issue did not however arrive at a conclusion in support of the Common Position as amended by the Parliament and it was agreed to continue efforts within COREPER to bring about a conclusion.
The proposed Directive in its present form results from lengthy consideration of the complex issues involved by the Environment Council and the European Parliament, and reflects the present balance of political views within the Union on the regulation of packaging waste. It has been designed to deal with the different situations in member states and the need to avoid creating barriers to trade or distortions to competition.
