Vol. 514 No. 3
248 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the input, if any, he has into the proposals for the development of berths and other dockland works on lands proposed to be reclaimed from Dublin Bay by the port company in view of the special amenity area order in respect of Bull Island and the obligation under the EU enforcement procedures to extend this order to the entire bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4032/00]
The implementation of a confirmed special amenity area order is a matter for the relevant planning authority. As I stated in reply to Question No. 99 of 10 February 2000, while the European Commission has registered complaints against Ireland in relation to alleged non-compliance with Directives 79/409/EEC, birds, and 92/43/EC, habitats, the Commission has not sought any specific action. Unlike special protection areas and special areas of conservation, which are EU designations arising from the birds and habitats directives respectively, special amenity area orders are national designations provided for under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963. I have no function in relation to the proposed reclamation of land or associated developments in the Dublin port area.
