IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

Council Directive of 2 April, 1979, on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC) provides for the conservation of wild birds by, among other things, classifying important ornithological sites as Special Protection Areas for them. The effect of these Regulations is to classify Wexford Harbour as a Special Protection Area in accordance with Article 4 of the Directive and to provide that contravention of the provisions of these Regulations shall constitute an offence.

These Regulations are for the purposes of giving effect to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93 of 1 February, 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community, as amended. While this Council Regulation is directly applicable in Member States of the European Union, it is necessary to provide for certain administrative details, in particular those relating to enforcement.

The Regulations inter alia provide for the designation of competent authorities for the purpose of controlling waste transhipments, powers of competent authorities, the imposition of certain requirements in relation to the shipment of waste into or out of the State, and the prohibition of waste imports by the Environmental Protection Agency.

These Regulations will replace existing Regulations made under the European Communities Act, 1972 , which will be revoked with effect from 20 May, 1998 by virtue of section 6 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 .

These Regulations prescribe standards for the use of sewage sludge in agriculture. The Regulations give effect to Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June, 1986 (O.J. No. L 181/6, 4 July, 1986) on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture.

The Regulations come into operation on 20 May, 1998 and replace the European Communities (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1991 ( S.I. No. 183 of 1991 ) which are revoked with effect from that date by virtue of sections 1 and 6 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 .

 

These Regulations give effect to article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93 of 1 February, 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community, as amended.

The Regulations provide, inter alia, for a system of consignment notes in respect of the movement of hazardous waste within the State. They also transpose into Irish legislation certain EU requirements regarding the labelling of waste containers and the mixture of wastes.

These Regulations will replace provisions of the European Communities (Toxic and Dangerous Waste) Regulation, 1982, which will be revoked with effect from 20 May, 1998 by virtue of section 6 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 .

 

These Regulations amend the scope of section 51 (2) of the Waste Management Act, 1996 , concerning the recovery of sludges and agricultural waste.

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These regulations set out the procedures for public access to information relating to the environment held by public authorities in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive of June, 1990, No. 90/313/EEC (O.J. No. L158/56 of 23 June, 1990) on the Freedom of Access to Information on the Environment. The Regulations also provide certain grounds for refusal of information and establish other procedures relevant to processing of requests by public authorities.

These Regulations revoke, and replace with some amendments, the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations, 1990 to 1993 and the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) (Cork) Regulations, 1994 relating to the ban on the marketing, sale or distribution of certain fuels within the restricted areas of Dublin and Cork.

The Regulations also provide for the introduction of the same ban in the restricted areas of Arklow, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick and Wexford.

The Regulations come into force on 1 October, 1998

These Regulations prescribe certain organisations for the purpose of enabling them to nominate persons from whom the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources may appoint the 6 ordinary members of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board under section 23 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 (No. 23)