IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

These Regulations prescribe requirements in relation to the provision of collecting systems and treatment standards and other requirements for urban waste water treatment plants, generally and in sensitive areas. The Regulations identify 10 water bodies as sensitive areas. The Regulations also provide for monitoring procedures in relation to treatment plants and make provision for pre-treatment requirements in relation to industrial waste water treatment plants.

These Regulations give effect to provisions of Council Directive No. 9½71/EEC of 21st May, 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment.

These Regulations bring into effect from 13th February, 1995 a prohibition on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coals within the restricted area of Cork and set certain standards for allowable fuels within that area. The prohibition does not apply to certain operations involving the storage of prohibited fuels within the area and their transport or delivery through the area. The Regulations also make provision for their enforcement by Cork Corporation and Cork County Council within their respective functional areas and provide controls in that regard (keeping and examination of records etc.).

The Regulations also revoke the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) (Cork) Regulations, 1993 ( S.I. No. 294 of 1993 ) which prohibited the sale of slack and required retailers to have a supply of smokeless or low-smoke fuel for sale in the designated area of Cork.

Council Directive of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (79/409/EEC) provides for the conservation of populations 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 seven sites as Special Protection Areas 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 give effect to Council Directive 90/219/EEC on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms, and Council Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment.

The Regulations provide for various procedural matters in relation to the contained use, deliberate release and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms. They provide for notifications for consent, application of principles of good microbiological practice, risk assessment, reviews of consents, accident procedures, and the contents of a register of notifications. Users of genetically modified organisms are required under the Regulations to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to avoid adverse effects on human health and the environment. A consent to place a product, containing or consisting of a genetically modified organism, on the market must include conditions relating to the labelling and packaging of the product.

These Regulations provide for the implementation of Council Directive 92/3/Euratom of 3 February, 1992 laying down conditions for the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste between Members States and into and out of the Community, whenever quantities and concentrations of such waste exceed certain levels. These conditions supplement the existing Council Directives on basic safety standards for the health protection of workers and the general public against the dangers of ionising radiation.

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has been deemed the Competent Authority for the purpose of implementation of these Regulations in this country and application should be made to that body for all authorisations required under the Regulations.

These Regulations give further effect to Council Directive 91/157/EEC of 18 March, 1991 and to Commission Directive 93/86/EEC of 4 October, 1993 on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances. They provide that certain batteries and accumulators should not be incorporated into appliances unless they can be readily removed. They also require the marking of certain batteries and accumulators (and certain appliances in which they are installed) in relation to heavy metal content, safe removal, recyclability and separate collection.

The purpose of these Regulations is to implement Council Directive No. 90/667/EEC of 27 November, 1990, as amended by Council Directive No. 92/118/EEC of 17 December, 1992 and Commission Decision No. 92/562/EEC of 17 November, 1992, laying down the veterinary rules for the disposal and processing of animal by-products, for their placing on the market and for the prevention of pathogens in feedingstuffs of animal or fish origin.

These Regulations prohibit the marketing in the State from:—

1 October, 1994, of gas oil, the sulphur content of which, expressed as sulphur, exceeds 0.2 per cent by weight, and

1 October, 1996, of diesel oil, the sulphur content of which, expressed as sulphur, exceeds 0.05 per cent by weight.

The Regulations give effect to Council Directive of 23 March, 1993 (93/12/EEC)1 relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels.

The Regulations replace the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Sulphur Content of Gas Oil) Regulations, 1989 ( S.I. No. 168 of 1989 ).