IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

S.I. No. 246/2012 European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats) Regulations 2012

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 (úthe Birds Directiveù) 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.

These Regulations provide for the transposition and implementation of Articles 1, 2, 3, 4(2), 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14(4), 15(4), 17, 18, 27, 28 and 29 of Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the energy performance of buildings (recast).

The effect of these regulations is to amend S.I. 346 of 2009, which provide for the management of sea-fisheries that may impact on Natura 2000 sites. The amendments are designed to allow for the more effective management of fisheries Natura permits.

Section 29 (as amended by section 4 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 ) of the Wildlife Act 1976 is amended in subsection (5A)(b)(ii) by deleting "but before 1 August 2012".

Amendment of section 5 of Principal Act. Amendment of section 22 of Principal Act. Domestic waste water treatment systems.

The purpose for which these Regulations are made is to prescribe the actions to be taken by owners of domestic waste water treatment systems to ensure compliance with their obligations under Section 70(C)(1) of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 .

These Regulations increase the landfill levy for waste disposed of at authorised and unauthorised landfill facilities from 50 per tonne to 65 per tonne with effect from 1 July 2012. The Regulations also remove the exemption from the levy for non-metallic residues arising from the shredding of end-of-life vehicles, white goods and other metal waste.