IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

These Regulations establish a new strengthened regime for the protection of groundwater by giving effect to the measures needed to achieve the environmental objectives established for groundwater by Directive 2000/60/EC and by giving effect to the requirements of Directive 2006/118/EC. The Regulations establish clear environmental objectives to be achieved in groundwater bodies within specified timeframes and introduce the legal basis for a more flexible, proportionate and risk-based approach to implementing the legal obligation to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater, which already exists under Directive 80/68/EEC. Measures for this purpose include the following: •measures to prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater and to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater •measures to protect, enhance and restore all bodies of groundwater and to ensure a balance between abstraction and recharge of groundwater, with the aim of achieving good groundwater within a particular timeframe •measures requiring the reversal of any significant and sustained upward trend in the concentration of any pollutant resulting from the impact of human activity in order to progressively reduce pollution of groundwater •measures for determining groundwater quantitative and chemical status •measures establishing procedures for the identification of significant and sustained upward trends and the definition of the starting point for trend reversal •the laying down of rules for the presentation and reporting of groundwater monitoring results, trend assessments and the classification of quantitative status and chemical status of groundwater bodies These Regulations revoke the Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 ( S.I. No. 42 of 1999 ) from 2013.

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 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 the First Schedule (a map or maps of the area) and the Second Schedule (a list of the townlands in question or a description of the area).

The bird species cited in the Third Schedule 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 the Third Schedule of these Regulations. Landowners or occupiers should contact the local National Parks and Wildlife Service office of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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 4) that contravention of the provisions of these Regulations shall constitute an offence: Regulation 5 provides for penalties.

These Regulations increase the landfill levy for waste disposed of at an authorised or unauthorised landfill facility from 20 per tonne to 25 per tonne with effect from 31 December 2009

Waste Management (Food Waste) Regulations 2009

These Regulations are designed to promote the segregation and recovery of food waste arising in the commercial sector. They will facilitate in particular the achievement of the targets set out in Directive 99/31/EC on the landfill of waste for the diversion of biodegradable municipal waste from landfill sites to composting and to other forms of authorised treatment. They will also increase the amount of food waste that is recovered.

The Regulations impose obligations on the major sources of food waste, such as State buildings where food is prepared, restaurants and cafés, hot food outlets, canteens, hotels and larger guest houses, supermarkets and other food retailers, to segregate these materials and make them available for separate collection. Alternatively, these materials can be treated on the premises where they arise under specified conditions.

S.I. No. 503/2009 Financial Emergency Measures In the Public Interest (Farm Waste Management Scheme) Order 2009

This Order amends section 73(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 as inserted by section 11 of the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and provides that the amount of the landfill levy shall not exceed 25.

These Regulations provide for measures and procedures to prevent or reduce as far as possible any adverse effects on the environment, in particular water, air, soil, fauna and flora and landscape, and any resultant risks to human health, brought about as a result of the management of waste from the extractive industries and transpose Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from the extractive industries into Irish legislation. Where an existing licence for a facility covered by these Regulations exists there is provision for avoidance of duplication by both the operators and competent authority. The following table indicates how the Directive is transposed.

The purpose of these Regulations is to reduce the discharge of sewage into the sea, especially illegal discharges, from ships using ports in the Community, by improving the availability and use of port reception facilities, thereby enhancing the protection of the marine environment.