Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 June 2014
15. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the EU regulations, directives and decisions Ireland is currently in breach of which are the responsibility of his Department; if there are any financial implications to these breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24725/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Commission has raised issues in relation to how Ireland has addressed three Directives that are within the remit of my Department. In January 2014, the European Commission decided to refer the transposition of Directive 2009/28/EC on Renewable Energy to the European Court of Justice, proposing a daily fine of €25,447, to be effective from the date of the judgement of the Court. Ireland has transposed the bulk of this Directive and is committed to having the remaining provisions fully transposed as early as possible in 2014 and to have this fully completed well in advance of any hearing in the European Court, which should fully resolve the matter. In May 2014 the European Commission commenced proceedings relating to the transposition of Directive 2009/72/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity, and proposed a daily of €20,358 and costs. In view of the complexity of the Directive, and the detailed correspondence engaged in to date, my Department has sought legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General and will await such a legal examination of the case stated, before deciding the next steps.
Directive 2009/31/EC provides for the regulation of the storage of carbon dioxide in geological structures and provides under Article 4.1 that any Member State may exercise the right not to allow the geological storage of CO2 in its territory. Ireland, and a number of EU member States exercised this option, but the Commission considered this as only partially satisfying the requirements of the directive. My Department, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the Attorney General’s Office have prepared a further Statutory Instrument addressing the two outstanding articles and this is currently in the process of being signed off by both Ministers. This will ensure full transposition of the Directive.
