Government in rush to clear backlog of 55 EU directives

FIFTY FIVE EU directives, some from as far back as four years ago, have not yet been transcribed into Irish law, latest figures reveal.

The directives concerned cover numerous issues such as the transport of dangerous goods, race equality and environmental pollution.

In April Taoiseach Bertie Ahern wrote to all ministers including Tánaiste Mary Harney, warning them to put into law all outstanding EU directives before Ireland assumes the EU presidency in January. He authorised extra legal resources and warned ministers of the negative consequences for Ireland if sufficient progress was not made in time.

However, despite the warning, and the Government’s obligations under EU law, five Government departments are unlikely to clear the current backlog of overdue directives by January.

Ms Harney, whose department has failed to transcribe 12 directives on time, said five would still not be in place on time for next year. She said: “Because of particular complexities, the remaining five are not expected to be transposed this year although this will be kept under review.”

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan, with 15 overdue directives, promised to catch up before year-end, saying a private barrister had been employed to speed the process up.

In addition, the Departments of Justice, Environment, and the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources have failed to transpose a further 11 directives in total.

EU league tables show Ireland’s record on implementing directives is the third-worst in Europe while as recently as April, its backlog of non-transposed directives was growing faster than every other member state except Italy. European Affairs Minister Dick Roach said departments were well on track to meeting the deadline but said: “I don’t think we’ll have a zero sheet by that date but I’m happy departments are working on it at speed. The Taoiseach is very anxious we would move on at pace.” Mr Roach praised the Department of Agriculture, saying it had cleared 53 overdue directives this summer but Sinn Féin’s Aengus O’Snodaigh, who obtained the latest figures through parliamentary questions, called on the Government to firmly commit to deal with EU directives in the future.

“I can’t see how they can meet their own deadline of Christmas and it’s a pity it took the EU presidency to get the Government to realise the importance of these directives,” he said.