IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

The Order recognises part of the lands known as Pollatomish Bog in the townlands of Béal an Átha Buí, Fálach, Cnoc na Lobhar, Moing Eiriún Thuaidh agus Moing Eiriún Theas in the County of Mayo as a Natural Heritage Area under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.

The Order recognises part of the lands known as Carna Heath and Bog in the townland of Roisín na Mainiach in the County of Galway as a Natural Heritage Area under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.

The Order recognises part of the lands known as Corveen Bog in the townlands of An Ardaidh Bheag, Sliabh na hArdadh Móire, An Chorrmhín [T: Mín an Chladaigh], Doire Chonaire, An Ghlaisigh agus Sliabh Mhachaire Uí Rabhartaigh in the County of Donegal as a Natural Heritage Area under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.

These Regulations give full effect to Council Regulation (EC) No. 812/2004 of 26.4.2004 which lays down measures concerning incidental catches of cetaceans in certain fisheries.

These Regulations, which may be cited as the European Communities (Natural Mineral Waters, Spring Waters and Other Waters in Bottles or Containers) Regulations 2007, give further effect to Council Directive 80/777/EEC of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters, as amended by Directive 96/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 October 1996. They also give further effect to Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption and to Commission Directive 2003/40/EC of 16 May 2003 establishing the list, concentration limits and labelling requirements for the constituents of natural mineral waters and the conditions for using ozone-enriched air for the treatment of natural mineral waters and spring waters. These Regulations set certain requirements in respect of the exploitation, treatment, packaging and marketing of bottled waters and also include requirements in relation to labelling and various parametric values. These Regulations revoke the European Communities (Natural Mineral Waters, Spring Waters and Other Waters in Bottles or Containers) Regulations 2005 ( S.I. No. 79 of 2005 ).

These Regulations revoke the Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 66 of 2007 ) and provide for an increase in the amount of the levy on plastic bags from 15 cent to 22 cent per bag with effect from 1 July 2007.

These Regulations are for the purpose of giving full effect to Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 January 2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register and amending Council Directives 91/689/EEC and 96/61/EC. While this Regulation is directly applicable in Member States of the European Union, it is necessary to provide for certain administrative details, in particular those relating to enforcement. The Environmental Protection Agency is designated as the competent authority for the purpose of these Regulations. The Regulations also create offences and provide for related penalties.

These Regulations give effect to Annex VI as added to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention) by its Protocol adopted by the International Maritime Organization on 26 September 1997. The Regulations, which apply to Irish ships everywhere and to other ships when they are in the inland waters and territorial seas of the State, control emissions from ships with a view to preventing air pollution.

Section 29 of the Sea Pollution Act 1991 provides for penalties for breaches of these Regulations.