Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

127 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of EU directives for which her Department has responsibility which have yet to be implemented; the number in respect of which the deadline for implementation has passed; if she has satisfied herself with the rate of compliance by her Department; the number of cases in which legal actions have been notified or commenced by the EU Commission arising from a failure to implement a directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29925/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

The current position on the transposition of EU directives for which my Department is responsible indicates a total of 24 directives to be implemented, including 11 for which the deadline for implementation, in full or in part, has passed. Details of the directives and the proposed transposition instruments, where decided, are available on my Department's website at www.entemp.ie/ecd/eudirectives The website also contains information on the directives in respect of which infringement proceedings have been commenced.

A letter of formal notice, under Article 226 of the treaty, has been issued by the European Commission in the case of one directive, and a reasoned opinion in the case of another six of the outstanding directives for which the deadline for implementation has passed. I am satisfied my Department is giving all due priority to the task of implementing the provisions of EU directives, in the light of available resources.