I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 to 152, inclusive, together.
The primary objective of the Seveso II Directive is to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances, and to limit the consequences of such accidents for human beings and the environment. Primary responsibility for transposition of the Directive rests with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, through the Health and Safety Authority – HSA. The European Communities (Control of Major Accident Hazards Involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 476 of 2000) therefore represent substantive transposition of the directive.
My Department's responsibility relates to land use planning requirements as set out in article 12 of the directive, and certain external emergency planning issues. In relation to emergency planning, I recently designated county councils and county borough corporations as "local competent authorities" under the powers conferred on me by article 5 of S.I. No. 476 of 2000.
Article 12 of the directive has two fundamental requirements regarding land use planning, that is, that land use policies include objectives for the prevention of major accidents and for limiting their consequences, through controls on development both within and around Seveso establishments, and that procedures are put in place to ensure that technical advice is available to planning authorities in the context of land use decision-making. The requirements in relation to land use policies have been transposed by virtue of section 10 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 – No. 30 of 2000 – which was commenced on 1 January 2001. This provision makes it mandatory for each local authority to include in its development plan objectives for the control of development within, and in the vicinity of, Seveso establishments for the purposes of reducing the risk, or limiting the consequences, of a major accident.