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EU Directives

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Ceisteanna (177)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

177. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Transport the nature of the European Commission's letter of formal notice of 24 January 2020 concerning European Union Council Directive 2017/159 (details supplied); the current status of this infringement procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58358/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As outlined to the Deputy in response to question number 57487/21 of 23 November 2021, the Department of Transport received a letter from the EU Commission, 24 January 2020, in relation to the late transposition of Directive 2017/159 regarding the social partners agreement on the Work in Fishing Directive.

The Commission requested that we, Ireland, ensure transposition as soon as possible in order to avoid further infringement proceedings. The Department completed this work over the following months and, in September of last year, informed the Commission that Directive 2017/159 had been transposed in full. A response from the EU Commission is awaited.

To note, in recent days, a separate Directive, 2019/1834, amending Directive 92/29/EC with regard to safety and health requirements for improved medical treatment on board vessels has been transposed. In transposing that amending Directive, my Department produced a consolidated statutory instrument to transpose Directive 92/29/EC as amended and revoked the original transposing statutory instrument. As part of that consolidation, my Department also took the opportunity to include provisions from the Work in Fishing Directive (2017/159) related to medical care on board vessels, which had already been transposed by way of SI 258/2020 and SI 259/2020 and to revoke those two original transposing statutory instruments.

The reasoning behind this approach was to produce a consolidated text detailing the legal requirements for the provision of medical supplies and equipment on board vessels making it easier for industry to identify and meet their legal obligations. Now all of the requirements are set out in a single text rather than four separate Statutory Instruments. The EU Commission has been notified of the updated national execution measures for both Directive 92/29/EC as amended and Directive 2017/159.

My Department continues to put in place the necessary measures to improve the transposition, implementation and enforcement of transport law in Ireland. As previously mentioned, a dedicated EU Coordination Unit within my Department is responsible for engaging with the EU Commission on these issues and works closely with responsible Officials in the Department of Transport, and other Departments as required, in response to each case.

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