Vol. 499 No. 2
7 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of cases of infringement of EU directives which are currently in the policy areas covered by his Department; the policy issues which arise in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2132/99]
Infringement proceedings by way of reasoned opinion under Article 169 of the Treaty on European Union have been notified to Ireland by the European Commission in eight cases in respect of policy areas within my Department's overall remit. These relate to the non-transposition of EU legislation on road-worthiness testing of vehicles and emissions from non-mobile road machines and to submission of reports on the operation of water directives, motor vehicle standards, driving licences, environmental impact assessment, protection of water against pollution by dangerous substances and compliance with waste planning obligations.
European Court proceedings have been initiated on the operation of aspects of national legislation in the areas of environmental impact assessment and groundwater protection and on the non-transposition of the directive on the road-worthiness testing of cars.
What measures are being taken to deal with this? In two or three cases court pro ceedings have been taken and there are eight other cases where matters have not proceeded that far. Is the Minister doing anything to avoid recourse to court proceedings and, if so, what?
Under Article 169 notifications various actions are being taken and some replies have been issued. We are looking for an extension of time to reply. Rather than going into detail now I can, if the Deputy wishes, let him have that information later. Action is being taken in all the cases that have been notified to us.
It is extremely disturbing. Given the carnage on our roads, does the Minister agree that a number of the cases where infringement proceedings are being taken relate to road-worthiness of vehicles and driver testing, areas which impact directly on road safety?
Regarding the infringement relating to water quality and water pollution, have the Minister or his Department had recent meetings with the environment directorate in Brussels on water quality and the non-implementation of EU directives in that area? If so, what has been the outcome of those meetings and what undertakings did he or his Department give to the Commission on those matters?
We signed the contract for the testing of vehicles for road-worthiness and have asked the Commissioner to withdraw the infringement proceedings on the basis that we will be in compliance. As to the other questions raised, we are in consultation with the Commission regularly on all these matters. In some cases we have to seek clarification from the Commission as there are sometimes different interpretations in Brussels as to the meaning of a directive. We have had some examples of that recently. Anything relating to ground water and drinking water supplies is taken very seriously and necessary action is taken as quickly as possible. There was much publicity recently about water supplies, much of which was highly inaccurate. There is a view that private group water schemes do not come within the ambit of the directive. We are discussing that with the Commission.
I hope we will lose that.
Whether we lose it or not I regard the matter seriously and we are addressing it. Whether it comes within the ambit of the directive, we have provided extra money, which will be announced in the next few weeks, to put a good programme in place to ensure the safety of water in private group schemes.
Has the Minister addressed the problem of the quantity of lead in drinking water? It is my understanding that much if not all of the piping supplying water will have to be replaced at enormous cost? Where do we stand on that?
I do not have information on that but it is my understanding that it is not a problem and that we are within accepted limits in that area. If the Deputy wants further information—
I understand the problem is that pipes are made of lead.
Quite a substantial amount of water pipes are made of lead but regular readings are taken and we are within EU guidelines in all cases.
Will the Minister accept that DG XI is appalled at our attitude to the environment? Is it not unbelievable that it was the Minister's predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Smith, who first announced that motor vehicle testing would be brought in and that so many years later we have done nothing about it despite having an air quality crisis in this city? We have a real problem with PM10 and VOC emissions and we are breaking World Health Organisation limits.
The Deputy is imparting information.
When will the Minister get off his hands and do something about this problem? Reports from the environmental agency Earthwatch state that the Commission has been in contact over the Minister's failure to transpose the ambient air quality framework directive. Is that the case? What has the Department done about it?
The Deputy is prone to exaggeration and hyperbole as to what we might or might not be doing. It is grossly unfair to my predecessor, myself and the Minister of State to say that nothing has been done about any of these things. A contract was signed before Christmas relating to motor vehicle testing and we had to go through a tendering procedure.
How many years later?
I can answer only for myself. The Deputy said I was sitting on my hands. I am not, nor is the Minister of State who is in charge of that matter. The most recent report on community legislation from the Commission indicated that at 31 December 1997 we had implemented 98 per cent of the directives on environmental issues. I would like it to be 100 per cent and I do not intend to rest until it is. That is as good a record as, if not better than, that of most countries in the EU.
What about my question regarding the Commission being in contact on transposing the framework document on air quality?
The Commission has been in contact with us on the question of the directive on ambient air. Regulations are being made early this year by the Minister of State to effect the transposition of the initial elements of that directive pending the adoption by the EU of subsidiary directives. There are some other directives which the EU must adopt.
Does the Minister accept that it would make a huge difference if the Department was to contribute more money, particularly to the Dublin air quality management plan. To date, only £20,000 has been contributed. Will the Minister give a commitment that he will try to give more money to make that plan work so that we will have better quality air in Dublin?
If there are proposals submitted to the Department, we will certainly consider them favourably.
