IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

These Regulations designate Ports and Airports of Entry and Exit for Trade with Third Countries in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) specimens.

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 useful and informative 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 by telephoning 1-800-405000 or by viewing the relevant text or map details on www.npws.ie. 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, planning permission, 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 of these Regulations is to implement Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 May 2010 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products (recast). The Energy Labelling Directive is a Framework Directive which specifies the framework within which detailed measures (referred to as EU measures) setting energy labelling requirements for specific energy-related products are brought forward by the EU Commission. It is a recast of an earlier Directive (Directive 1992/75/EC) which established a framework for the setting of energy labelling requirements for the consumption of energy and other resources by household appliances, and extends the scope of the application of that Directive to a wider variety of products which have a direct or indirect impact on energy consumption during use. These Regulations oblige suppliers of energy-related products regulated by an EU measure to supply an energy label and fiche with the product. These Regulations oblige dealers of energy-related products covered by an implementing measure to ensure that an energy label is displayed properly to end-users for products offered for sale, hire or hire-purchase. These Regulations revoke and replace the administrative provisions of Statutory Instruments made under the first Energy Labelling Directive in Schedule 2. These Regulations transpose the implementing measures listed in Schedule 1.

These Regulations amend the Sea Pollution (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 788 of 2007 ) on the prevention of oil pollution from ships. The purpose of the Regulations is to lay down special requirements with regard to both use and carriage of heavy, and therefore highly polluting, oils for Irish ships while in the Antarctic area, south of latitude 60¬?S, a designated special area for oil pollution prevention.

These Regulations give further effect to the provisions of European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/96/EC as amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/108/EC and by Article 5 of Directive 2008/112/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and revoke the Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005 ( S.I. No. 340 of 2005 ) as amended by the Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 ( S.I. No. 375 of 2008 ) and the Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 143 of 2010 ). They are designed to promote the recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. They will facilitate in particular the achievement of the targets for the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner established by Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment as amended by Directive 2003/108/EC. The Regulations impose obligations on persons who supply electrical and electronic equipment to the Irish market, whether as retailers, importers or manufacturers. An exemption from these obligations is available to persons who participate in a scheme for the collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner operated by an approved body established in accordance with the provisions of Part IV of these Regulations.

The purpose of these regulations is to prescribe bodies for consultation and submission of observations to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of an application for a foreshore lease, licence or permission and to prescribe a statutory time limit for such consultations.

This Regulation defines further the minimum number of bathing water samples required to carry out a bathing water quality assessment. The Regulation gives further effect to Council Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 and Directive 2006/7/EC of 15 February 2006, on the quality of bathing waters and amends Statutory Instrument No. 79 of 2008.

These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Clean and Energy-Efficient Road Transport Vehicles) Regulations 2011.