Michael Ring
Ceist:90 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht what Minister negotiated the EU deal on the special areas of conservation in 1993. [22935/96]
Written Answers. - Directive Negotiations.
The Habitats Directive, 91/43/EEC, was first put forward by the European Commission in August 1988 and was negotiated between then and May 1992 when it was formally adopted. It was discussed and approved by the Council of Ministers for the Environment.
When the directive was finally adopted, the Minister for the Environment was Deputy Michael Smith, and the Minister of State with responsibility for nature conservation was Deputy Noel Treacy.