92000E0622

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0622/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 March 2000)

Subject: Ireland's implementation of EU environmental legislation

Would the Commission provide a summary of all the outstanding pieces of EU environmental legislation which Ireland has so far failed to implement in part or in whole, comment on Ireland's record in responding to Commission requests for information and outline any concerns it has about specific directives and their perceived non-implementation.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2000)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's annual reports on monitoring the application of Community law for an overview of the main issues of non-compliance with environmental legislation in the Member States, including Ireland.

As regards comments on Ireland's record in responding to Commission requests for information on environmental complaints, the Commission has since mid-1999 been making systematic use of letters of formal notice pursuant to Articles 10 (ex Article 5) and Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty in relation to Member States which do not provide timely responses to such requests. Two such letters have been addressed to Ireland.

The Honourable Member is requested to identify the specific directives she has in mind.