Vol. 577 No. 4
70 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the directive from the EU Commission to designate coastal bays and estuaries as suitable for shellfish production, which should have been done by 17 April 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31266/03]
In April 2003, my Department issued a formal reply to a complaint from the EU Commission alleging, inter alia, failure by Ireland to designate shellfish growing waters in accordance with obligations under EU Council Directive 79/923/EEC on the quality of shellfish waters. The response advised that the Department will be addressing the issue of designation of all appropriate shellfish waters under the directive, the preparation of programmes in respect of designations and the setting of values for specific parameters under the directive.
A European court judgment, published on 11 September 2003, found that Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations under the directive. In this regard, the Commission requested on 27 October 2003 an update by end January 2004 on measures Ireland is taking to comply with the judgment. My Department, working closely with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, is urgently progressing the work involved in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and relevant agencies.
