I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 273 and 274 together.
European Court of Justice case C-282/02 concerns Ireland's implementation of Council Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community (now Directive 2006/11/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council). One aspect of the judgment in that case was that Ireland was in breach of Article 7(2) of the original Dangerous Substances Directive by failing to make certain local authority discharges subject to authorisation.
Draft regulations providing for a new authorisation regime for all discharges from local authority waste water treatment plants are nearing completion in my Department, in consultation with the European Commission and other relevant interests. I expect to make these regulations, which will also give further effect to the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), in the near future.
In relation to the European Court of Justice judgment in Case C-316/00 concerning Ireland's failure to comply with certain micro-biological parameters of Council Directive 80/778/EEC relating to water intended for human consumption, a detailed response, addressing the various points raised in the Article 228 reasoned opinion, issued to the Commission on 23 May 2007.