Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Habitats Directive.

Séamus Hughes

Ceist:

98 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht whether regulations to be transposed into a EU Habitats Directive will not be signed until February 1997 to allow for meaningful consultations with farming organisations; if not, whether he proposes signing the regulations in the next few weeks but they are not to become effective until 1997, thereby he will lose the goodwill of the farming community in the sensitive negotiations which are to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23424/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

As indicated in my statement in the Dáil last week, the regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972, to transpose the EU Habitats Directive into Irish law will not come into effect until February 1997, in order to allow for adequate consultation with farming organisations and other interested groups. I am very aware of the concerns of the farming organisations in these sensitive negotiations and, having listened to the views expressed. I can now confirm that I will sign the regulations next February.