I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 99, 138, and 595 together.
Infringement proceedings have been notified by the European Commission in respect of environmental directives affecting certain policy areas within my Department's remit.
In the first instance, proceedings have been initiated before the European Court of Justice in respect of failure to implement Directive 97/68/EC concerning emissions of pollutants from engines in non-road mobile machinery. My colleague, the Minister of State Deputy Dan Wallace, made the European Communities (Control of Emissions of Gaseous and Particulate Pollutants from Non-Road Mobile Machinery) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 396 of 1999) on 14 December 1999. These fully transpose the directive into Irish law and I expect they will enable the court proceedings to be concluded without further action.
Secondly, the Commission has initiated court proceedings in respect of failure to implement Directive 75/442/EEC, as amended, on waste, Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, and Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, with regard to the making of waste management plans. Ireland was originally given until 13 January 2000 to lodge a defence. The Attorney General's office has, with the support of the Commission, formally requested an extension of time which would allow the now advanced waste management planning process to be fully completed.