Environmental impact assessment legislation
Shatter asked when legislation implementing the EC environmental impact assessment directive would be introduced, noting infringement proceedings and the missed deadline. The Taoiseach gave no date, saying the Government would deal with as much legislation as possible and seeking the Opposition’s cooperation.
The Taoiseach will be aware that due to the failure of the Minister for the Environment to bring legislation before the House to give effect to the EC directive on environmental impact assessment, proceedings have now commenced under Article 169 of the EC Treaty to take this State to the European Court. Will the Taoiseach indicate why that legislation will not apparently come before the House within the next few weeks? When does he expect this issue to be dealt with, seeing that he should have enacted legislation in this area before 3 July 1988 and seeing that it is vital legislation in the context of protecting the environment, in dealing with industrial problems and in dealing with proposed industries who wish to come into this country?
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I know the Deputies opposite are anxious to convey an impression of zeal, but I would point out to them——
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——that in one Dáil session it is not possible to do everything. All the legislation that we can deal with effectively will be dealt with in this session and——
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——we will rely on the co-operation of the Deputies opposite to help us to get through this massive programme of legislation we have on hands.
