IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

This S.I. transposes the elements of Directive (EU) 2015/1513 (the Indirect Land-use Change (ILUC) Directive) relating to the Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2009/28/EC).

This Order establishes, on 11 June 2018, An Fóram Uisce or, in the English Language the Water Forum to perform the functions conferred on it by the Water Services Act 2017 .

This Order is made under the Water Services Act 2017 , to provide for the establishment date for the Water Advisory Body. The Advisory Body will perform such functions as have been specified under Part 7 of that Act.

This Order provides that the 1st day of July 2018 is appointed as the day on which section 19 of the Energy Act 2016 (No. 12 of 2016) comes into operation.

These Regulations transpose Directive 2016/2284/EU of the European Parliament and the Council relating to national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants.

The Regulations provide that the EPA shall prepare an annual inventory report of emissions of 5 specified pollutants (sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), ammonia (NH3), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)), and in certain years a report on projections of emissions.

The Regulations require the Minister to ensure that emissions of the specified pollutants are limited in accordance with the ceilings set out in Schedule 2. The Regulations also require the preparation of a national air pollution control programme, and the establishment of a network to monitor the negative impacts of air pollution.

These Regulations give effect to the provisions of Council Regulation (EU) 2016/2285 of 12 December 2016 fixing for 2017 and 2018 the annual fishing opportunities available to Community fishing vessels for stocks of deep-sea species in Community waters and in certain non-Community waters where catch limitations are required, and the specific conditions under which such fishing opportunities may be used.

These Regulations amend the European Union (Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2012 ( S.I. No. 513 of 2012 ) in order to give effect to the provisions of the following Commission Delegated Directives:

a) Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2015 amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the list of restricted substances;

b) Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2016/585 of 12 February 2016 amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex IV to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in spare parts recovered from and used for the repair or refurbishment of medical devices or electron microscopes;

c) Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2016/1029 of 19 April 2016 amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex IV to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for cadmium anodes in Hersch cells for certain oxygen sensors used in industrial monitoring and control instruments;

d) Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2016/1028 of 19 April 2016 amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex IV to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for lead in solders of electrical connections to temperature measurement sensors in certain devices.

These Regulations amend the Sea Pollution (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 313 of 2010 ) which give effect to the 2008 revision of Annex VI, the original version of which was added by the 1997 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which is an instrument of the International Maritime Organization.

The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect to Resolution MEPC.251(66) adopted on 4 April 2014 by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization.

Resolution MEPC.251(66) provides, inter alia, for the following amendments to MARPOL Annex VI:

— an amended method of application of emission control areas designated for NOX Tier III control;
— an exemption from NOX Tier III emission control for ships constructed before 1 January 2021 of less than 500 GT with a length of 24m or over, when such ships are specifically designed, and used solely, for recreational purposes;
— a provision which exempts from the application of Chapter 4, ships not propelled by mechanical means, and platforms including FPSO’s and FSU’s and drilling rigs, regardless of their propulsion;
— an amendment to the application of MARPOL Annex VI regulations 20 and 21 so that they shall not apply to ships which have non-conventional propulsion, except that regulations 20 and 21 shall apply to cruise passenger ships having non-conventional propulsion and LNG carriers having conventional or non-conventional propulsion, delivered on or after 1 September 2019, as defined in MARPOL Annex VI regulation 2.43. MARPOL Annex VI regulations 20 and 21 shall not apply to cargo ships having ice-breaking capability; and
— the scope of application of the required EEDI expanded to include further ship-types built on or after 1 September 2019, as defined in MARPOL Annex VI regulation 2, e.g., ro-ro passenger ships.