IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

S.I. No. 290/2013 - European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Sea-fisheries) Regulations 2013.

These Regulations set fees for applications to the Environmental Protection Agency for licences to carry out certain Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) waste activities specified in the First Schedule to the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (inserted by the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 and amended by the European Union (Industrial Emissions) Regulations 2013 ( S.I. No. 138 of 2013 )).

These Regulations provide for various procedural matters in relation to the integrated licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency of Integrated Pollution Control activities specified in the First Schedule to the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 . The Regulations provide for applications for licences, reviews of licences or revised licences, consideration by the Agency of objections, including the holding of oral hearings, public participation procedures associated with the integrated pollution control licensing system administered by the Agency and the contents of the register of integrated pollution control licences.

Directive 2009/147/EC (O.J. L 20/7 of 26 January 2010) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 ("the Birds Directive") on the conservation of wild birds provides for the conservation of wild birds by, among other things, classifying important ornithological sites as Special Protection Areas. The hyperlink http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/sites_birds/index_en.htm which connects to the European Commission Environment (Nature and Biodiversity) website also contains a further link to the text of the Birds Directive.

The effect of these Regulations is to designate a site as a Special Protection Area in accordance with Article 4 of the Directive. The geographical area of the Special Protection Area designated by these Regulations is defined by Schedule 1 (a map or maps of the area) and Schedule 2 (a list of the townlands in question / a description of the area). For more detailed maps than those contained in Schedule 1, or for greater detail on boundary delineation, contact should be made with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht or by viewing the relevant text or map details on www.npws.ie.

The area now known as the Horn Head to Fanad Head SPA (Site Code 004194) incoporates Dunfanaghy New Lake (Dunfanaghy — Rincleavan) SPA (Site Code 004059) which was statutorily protected under Paragraph 51 of the Schedule to the European to the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds) Regulations 1985 ( S.I. No. 291 of 1985 ) as inserted by the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations ( S.I. No. 286 of 1995 )).

It also incorporates Horn Head SPA (Site Code 004012) which was statutorily protected under Paragraph 12 of the Schedule to the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds) Regulations 1985 ( S.I. No. 291 of 1985 ) as inserted by the European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986 ( S.I. No. 48 of 1986 )).

These statutory provisions have been revoked and replaced by these Regulations.

The bird species cited in Schedule 3 of these Regulations are specified, in accordance with the Directive, in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution. Under Article 5 of the Directive all species of birds are afforded protection from disturbance, capture and damage to nests and eggs, not just the birds listed on Schedule 3 (with the exception of those birds covered under Articles 7 for hunting and 9, where derogations are listed).

Those operations or activities requiring the consent of the Minister listed at Schedule 4 to these Regulations are cited for their potential to cause disturbance or damage to the bird species and their habitats specified in Schedule 3 of these Regulations. Landowners or occupiers should contact the local National Parks and Wildlife Service office of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht before undertaking any of the works listed at Schedule 4. (See www.npws.ie for contact details). Please note that operations/activities other than those listed at Schedule 4 to these Regulations, such as effluent discharge, construction work, aquaculture, fishing or forestry require a licence or permission from the appropriate consent authority.

These Regulations provide (Regulation 6) that contravention of the provisions of these Regulations shall constitute an offence. Regulation 6 also provides for penalties.

The purpose for which this Order is made is to prescribe that Bord Gáis Éireann is a relevant person for the purposes of Section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 .

These Regulations amend the EUROPEAN UNION (HOUSEHOLD FOOD WASTE AND BIO-WASTE) Regulations 2013 by clarifying what constitutes an offence under the Regulations, dealing with powers of authorised persons and deleting Regulation 7 (b) which concerns the use of macerators.

The purpose for which these regulations are made is to provide for a scheme of financial assistance to owners of domestic waste water treatment systems which require remediation or upgrading arising from an inspection and the subsequent issue of an advisory notice under Part 4A of the Water Services Act 2007 , as inserted by Section 4 of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 .

S.I. No. 206/2013 - Harbours Act 1996 (Establishment of the Pilotage District of Sligo Harbour) Order 2013.