Vol. 523 No. 1
200 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Statutory Instrument, which was published in draft form in June 1999 and required to implement EU Directive 96/35/EC in relation to the requirement to have suitably qualified persons manage a transport company's involvement in dangerous goods activities, will be finalised and put in force; the reasons for the delay in doing so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20142/00]
The process for the transposition of Directive 96/35/EC into Irish law is at an advanced stage with negotiations among interested Departments and agencies on a draft prepared by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government nearly completed.
It is expected that Directive 96/35/EC will be transposed by the end of the current year by the European Communities (Safety Advisers for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Rail and Road) Regulations, 2000.
However, albeit that the regulations are not in place, it has to be recognised that the Health and Safety Authority has an examination scheme in place for over a year and there are already over two hundred dangerous goods safety advisers qualified and employed directly or on a consultancy basis.
