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Gnáthamharc

EU Directives.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Ceisteanna (1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015)

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1188 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on national emission ceilings for certain pollutants, No. 2001/81/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21480/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following public consultation in 2003, I intend to seek Government approval later this year for a draft strategy to reduce emissions of transboundary air pollution by 2010, and to publish this finalised strategy. In the context of the strategy preparations, I made the national emission ceiling regulations 2004 on 13 January 2004. These specify national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia to be achieved by 2010. A number of other relevant measures are already being actively pursued under existing and planned legislation and policies, including cleaner fuels and vehicles, integrated pollution control licensing, organic solvent emissions reduction and a voluntary agreement with the solid fuel industry. I have also submitted a national emission reduction plan for large combustion plant to the European Commission for assessment. The plan, under Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants from large combustion plant with a rated thermal input greater than 50 Mw, requires significant reductions of emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from older ESB power plants and boilers in Aughinish Alumina from 2008.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1189 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on ozone in ambient air, No. 2002/3/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21481/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The ozone in ambient air regulations, 2004, which transpose Directive 2002/3/EC, were signed on 11 February 2004. Under these regulations, the directive will be implemented and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1190 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, No. 2000/60/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21482/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The EU water framework directive, WFD, is being implemented in accordance with the timescales specified by the directive. The first implementation deadline occurred on 22 December 2003 and related to the transposition of the WFD into national law, the establishment of river basin districts and the identification of the competent authorities. These tasks were completed by the specified date.

Work is under way by my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and other bodies, in association with the appropriate authorities in Northern Ireland, for the timely delivery of all tasks specified for completion in 2004, and subsequently in relation to all river basin districts, RBDs, including the adoption of river basin management plans as required by 2009.

The WFD has been transposed into national law by the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003 which were made on 22 December 2003. The regulations assign responsibilities to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and other public authorities for carrying out the main tasks required by the WFD in accordance with the timescales laid down by the directive. Similar regulations were made by the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland on the same day.

The regulations specify the following tasks for completion in 2004: the protection of the status of all waters — that is, no deterioration to be allowed; the establishment of RBDs as the administrative areas for implementation of the directive, including international RBDs in relation to cross-Border river basins; the co-ordination of actions by all relevant public authorities for water quality management in an RBD including cross-Border RBDs; the characterisation of each RBD; the establishment of environmental objectives for each RBD and the development of a programme of measures to achieve those objectives; the development and adoption in each RBD of a river basin management plan; provision of reports to the European Commission as required; identification of pressures and impacts; carrying out of an economic analysis of water use; definition of reference conditions for good water status; identification of locations and boundaries of water bodies; establishment of a register of protected areas.

Work is in hand by my Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, local authorities and a range of other bodies to complete the specified tasks by the prescribed deadlines. The work is being progressed in a wide range of initiatives and activities including river basin district projects; research projects; inter-authority working groups and technical advisory committees operating at the following levels: river basin district, national level, North-South, Ireland-United Kingdom, European Union.

Financial support at a rate of 100% is being provided by my Department in relation to expenditure incurred by local authorities in establishing river basin district projects. Overall WFD implementation costs up to the end of 2006 to be funded by my Department are estimated at €55 million. River basin district projects have been established for the south-eastern region — Barrow, Nore, Suir, Slaney river basins and others — approved March 2002, operational since September 2002; Shannon river basin, approved November 2002, operational since January 2003; eastern region — Avoca-Vartry, Boyne, Nanny, Dartry, Dodder and Liffey — approved April 2003, operational since June 2003; western region — Loughs Arrow, Carrowmore, Conn, Corrib and Mask, river systems such as the Bonet, Clare, Robe, Moy and Owenmore — approved March 2004, operational since April 2004.

In January 2004 a project was approved in principle for the establishment of a river basin district project in relation to the south western region — Bandon; Blackwater, Munster; Lee and Laune and the Lakes of Killarney. Formal approval of this project is expected to be granted in the near future.

The North-South shared aquatic resource, NS-SHARE, now forms an important element for implementation of the WFD in cross-Border areas and for North-South co-operation in the international river basin districts, IRBDs, designated under the WFD. The project is intended to develop and implement working tools for water management in relation to shared waters in the Neagh Bann IRBD, the north western IRBD and the north eastern RBD and to make recommendations for their use in support of improved inter-regional capacity for environmental monitoring and management. Donegal County Council acting as the lead agency submitted a proposal for funding of the NS-SHARE project under the EU INTERREG IIIA programme. The project was given final approval by the INTERREG IIIA steering committee in April 2004. Consultants have now been appointed and the project commenced on 1 August 2004.

In total there are eight river basin districts on the island of Ireland, four of which are wholly in the Republic, one wholly in Northern Ireland and three shared cross-Border districts. The whole picture will be completed shortly by the commencement of additional projects specifically in relation to coastal and marine waters.

The transposing regulations require the establishment by local authorities of an advisory council in each river basin district. These councils are intended to provide a permanent, structured framework for dialogue between the relevant authorities and interested parties. The membership of the councils will comprise local authority members and representatives of sectors such as agriculture, industry, and environmental NGOs. Guidelines for the establishment of the advisory councils are being prepared in my Department and draft guidelines were issued for public consultation on 30 June 2004 with comments requested by end-August 2004.

My Department presented a seminar on 30 June 2004 in relation to implementation of the water framework directive. The seminar provided a forum for consultation, exchange of information and dialogue with all interested parties in relation to the measures being pursued for implementation of the directive. In addition, a website, www.wfdireland.ie, has been developed to facilitate public access to information on the implementation of the directive and measures are being taken to promote and facilitate participation by all interested persons.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1191 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of assessment of certain plans and programmes on the environment, SEA Directive 2001/42/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21483/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations2004 and the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 were made by me on 14 July 2004. These transpose into Irish law the requirements of Directive 2001/42/EC of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment commonly known as the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, directive.

The making of these regulations ensured that Ireland met the directive's transposition deadline of 21 July 2004. I had already issued draft guidelines for regional and planning authorities in March 2004 to assist them in implementing the requirements of the directive. The draft guidelines are currently being revised to take account of the submissions received during the consultation phase. I intend to publish the final guidelines shortly. A number of seminars have been held, and further seminars are planned, to assist competent authorities in implementing the requirements of the directive.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1192 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery 2002/95/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21485/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Regulations for the purpose of transposing Directive 2002/95/EC and a related 2004 directive are being drafted and will be finalised as soon as possible. Enforcement considerations are being addressed in the drafting of the regulations.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1193 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, No. 2002/95/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21486/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

It is intended to make regulations early in 2005 fully transposing this directive's provisions and facilitating its full implementation in July 2006 as required. My Department is actively engaging with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the effective implementation and enforcement of the proposed regulations.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1194 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment, No. 2002/96/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21487/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

It is intended to make regulations early in 2005 fully transposing this directive's provisions and facilitating its full implementation in August 2005 as required. My Department is actively engaging with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the effective implementation and enforcement of the regulations.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1195 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on end-of-life vehicles, No. 2000/53/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21488/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Enabling provisions to facilitate implementation of European Parliament and Council Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles were incorporated in the Protection of the Environment Act 2003. It is intended to make regulations later this year fully transposing the directive provisions and facilitating its full implementation in 2005.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

1196 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress being made towards the transposition of the directive on establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emissions allowance trading within the Community, No. 2003/87/EC; and the resources in place to ensure enforcement. [21489/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The European Communities (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading) Regulations 2004, which transpose Directive 2003/87/EC, were made on 14 July 2004. Under the regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency is the competent authority for the purposes of the directive.

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