IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

These Regulations give effect to Regulation No. 1946/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003 on transboundary movements of genetically modified organisms.

The Regulations detail the obligations placed on exporters to ensure that all relevant requirements in relation to the transboundary movement of a GMO intended for deliberate release are fulfilled; they give power to the Environmental Protection Agency as competent authority to give such directions to an exporter as it sees fit. The EPA is also designated as the focal point for the purposes of the EU Regulations. In addition, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Agriculture and Food are designated as competent authorities, with appropriate powers.

The Regulations come into effect on 12 February 2004.

1 OJ No. L287, 5.11.2003, p.1

The Regulations specify target values and long-term objectives to be attained for concentrations of ozone in ambient air. The Regulations provide for advice by the Environmental Protection Agency to local authorities about the need for air quality management plans to attain the target values or long-term objectives, and the preparation of such plans by local authorities. Provision is also made for air pollution action plans for short-term risks of exceedances of the ozone alert threshold. The Regulations also provide for the dissemination of public information, including where the alert threshold is, or is predicted to be, exceeded. This requirement necessitates informing the public of the types of groups potentially at risk, possible health effects and recommended conduct and preventive action.

1 O.J. L 67 of 9 March 2002, p.14.

2 O.J. L 377 of 31 December 1991, p.48.

3 O.J. L 35 of 5 February 1997, p.14.

4O.J. L 125 of 18 May 1994, p.1.

5 O.J. L 163 of 29 June 1999, p.41.

6 O.J. L 296 of 21 November 1996, p.55.

7 O.J. L 163 of 29 June 1999, p.41.

An act to amend and extend the Dumping at Sea Act 1996.[3rd November, 2004]

These Regulations transpose Directive 2001/81/EC into Irish law by specifying national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia to be achieved by 2010. The Regulations provide for the preparation of a national strategy with the aim of complying with the ceilings and the preparation and reporting of annual national emission inventories and projections.

1 O.J. L309/22 of 27.11.2001.

These Regulations provide for the transposition into Irish national law of the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive. For this purpose the Regulations, inter alia, —

• establish seven areas in the State as "river basin districts" (RBDs of which three relate to cross-border river basins shared with Northern Ireland
• require local authorities, acting jointly in relation to each RBD, to establish environmental objectives, to establish programmes of measures for the achievement of these objectives, to make river basin management plans and to establish river basin district advisory councils
• provide for co-ordination and guidance at national level by the Minister and the EPA
• require all public authorities to take measures appropriate to their functions to promote or achieve implementation of the Directive / Regulations, to co-ordinate, co-operate and liaise with other authorities including authorities in Northern Ireland for this purpose and to encourage the active involvement of all interested parties.

(1) OJ No.L327, 22. 12. 2000, P.1.

This Order prescribes the licence fees payable in respect of special local salmon fishing licences as respects licences issued or renewed for a period commencing on or after 1 January 2004.

These Regulations amend the European Communities (Port Reception Facilities for Ship-Generated Waste and Cargo Residues) Regulations 2003 in order to improve and accelerate the implementation of Community legislation on maritime safety, the prevention of pollution from ships and shipboard living and working conditions

These Regulations transpose Directive 2001/80/EC into Irish law by specifying emission limits for emissions of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and dust from large combustion plant with a rated thermal input equal to or greater than 50 MW. The Regulations also provide, where appropriate, for the definition and implementation of a national emission reduction plan for certain older plants, or the limitation of operation of such plants for not more than 20,000 operational hours between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015. The Regulations repeal the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Emission Limit Values for Combustion Plant) Regulations, 1996.