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Press Release: Environment 30
September 2005
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Laoghaire, Environment and Justice
Press Releases
30 September 2005
Green Party calls on Minister Roche to state costs to date of European Actions against Ireland
The Green Party has called on the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to give an account of the costs to date that have been awarded against Ireland by the European Court of Justice.
Although reports today indicate that the Government will not face fines for failing to comply with a European Court of Justice ruling dating to 1999, there have been several other judgements against Ireland in the intervening period.
Green Party Environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said today that, “Minister Roche has been defending the indefensible in many of these cases. We need an answer from him about the costs that the Irish Government has had to pay. In many cases it is the environment that pays the price and the Irish taxpayer that picks up the tab.”
“The Government is failing to take environmental issues seriously. Last July the European Commission decided to pursue infringement proceedings against Ireland in five cases involving breaches of EU environment law.
“According to the European Commission the Irish Government has:
-failed to report on progress with substances that harm the Ozone Layer,
-failed to report on progress on ozone-depleting pesticides,
-failed to properly plan for sensitive nature sites,
-failed to properly plan for the cumulative effects of projects; and
-failed to properly plan for forestry projects.
“This failure can result in the loss of archaeology, the infill of ecologically valuable wetlands and damage to the landscape. In some cases the Government is reporting late, and in other instances the Government is simply failing to even consider issues that Europe is saying we must not ignore.”
In a Dáil Question on the 5 May 2005, Ciarán Cuffe TD asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to state the costs imposed on Ireland arising from losing actions at the European Court of Justice in each of the past five years; the costs in 2005 to date; if he will identify the relevant cases and directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister Roche replied: In the period 2001-2005, there have been 7 judgments against Ireland in areas for which my Department has responsibility, and all of these included orders that the State should pay costs. However, it is not possible at this stage to indicate these costs, as they remain to be computed by the European Commission. The Community legislation involved in these 7 cases has been the Habitats Directive (2), the Nitrates Directive, Directives on Waste, Drinking Water Quality and End of Life Vehicles; and a Regulation on ozone depleting substances.
Next week Deputy Cuffe intends tabling the following question in the Dáil:
“To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the costs and fines imposed on Ireland arising from losing actions at the European Court of Justice in each of the past ten years; the costs in 2005 to date; if he will identify the relevant cases and directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.”
Deputy Cuffe concluded that, “No amount of bluster or hot air from the Minister will conceal the evidence that the Irish Government has been slow to comply with European Directives. Lack of compliance by successive Ministers is costing the Irish taxpayer money. The culture of complacency and obfuscation regarding European Union Law has got to end. Minister Roche must stop dragging his heels, and ensure that the environment is taken seriously”.
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