Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

John Bruton

Ceist:

179 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 19 May 1999, all of the statutory instruments to implement EU directives in July of 1999 have been implemented as of July 1999; and, if not, the reason in each case for the failure to meet the deadlines. [17461/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Of the 19 EU directives referred to in Question No. 135 of 19 May 1999, which were expected to be implemented by July of this year, eight have now been implemented. These are as follows:

Directive 98/82/EC	implemented on 17 June by SI Nos 179, 180, 181 of 1999
Directive 98/47/EC	implemented on 17 June by SI No 182 of 1999
Directive 99/1/EC	implemented on 30 June by SI No 198 of 1999
Directive 98/56/EC	implemented on 1 July by SI No 201 of 1999
Directive 98/64/EC	implemented on 8 September by SI No 289 of 1999
Directive 98/88/EC	implemented on 8 September by SI No 289 of 1999
Directive 98/92/EC	implemented on 21 October by SI No 334 of 1999
Directive 96/43/EC	implemented on 28 October (SI No not yet available).

Draft statutory instruments for the implementation of a further eight directives have been completed and are at the final checking stage. The directives in question are 95/53/EC, 96/24/EC, 96/25/EC, 96/51/EC, 96/93/EC, 98/67/EC, 98/68/EC and 98/87/EC.

Progress on the remaining three directives has been slower but it is hoped to have them implemented before the end of the year.

It has not been possible to meet the anticipated July 1999 completion date because of demands on staff and other resources as well as specific legal difficulties.