4 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the proportion of, directives, issued by the EC under the EC Single Market programme, which have been translated into domestic law in Ireland, and the way in which Ireland's record in this matter compares with that of other EC states.

23 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of, (1) the proportion of directives, issued by the EC under the EC Single Market programme, which have been translated into domestic law in Ireland and (2) the way in which Ireland's record in this matter compares with that of other EC states.

31 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of, (1) the proportion of directives, issued by the EC under the EC Single Market programme, which have been translated into domestic law in Ireland and (2) the way in which Ireland's record in this matter compares with that of other EC states.

63 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of, (1) the proportion of directives, issued by the EC under the EC Single Market programme, which have been translated into domestic law in Ireland and (2) the way in which Ireland's record in this matter compares with that of other EC states.

65 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of, (1) the proportion of directives, issued by the EC under the EC Single Market programme, which have been translated into domestic law in Ireland and (2) the way in which Ireland's record in this matter compares with that of other EC states.

81 Dr. Lee asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of, (1) the proportion of directives, issued by the EC under the EC Single Market programme, which have been translated into domestic law in Ireland and (2) the way in which Ireland's record in this matter compares with that of other EC states.

83 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give details of, (1) the proportion of directives, issued by the EC under the EC Single Market programme, which have been translated into domestic law in Ireland and (2) the way in which Ireland's record in this matter compares with that of other EC states.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 23, 31, 63, 65, 81 and 83 together.

A recent communication prepared by the EC Commission for the Internal Market Council shows that, as Ireland has transposed over 73 per cent of the internal market measures currently in force which require national implementing measures, this country now ranks fourth among member states in terms of meeting Single Market targets.

Is it true that Ireland's record in this regard is second worst in the European Community and that Britain, who are generally perceived to be the least Community-minded of all these countries, is the best?

Deputy Barry must not have been listening. I said that we are fourth out of 12. That means that there are eight behind us. We are near the top of the class in a very competitive class with many high quality pupils. We are doing extremely well.

Will the Minister say how many directives are still outstanding to be implemented and within what time-span it is anticipated they will be implemented?

There are 37 and the great majority of those will be implemented before the end of the year. There are a few that may not be due for implementation until later.

Of the 37 pending, will the Minister indicate whether any of them are imminent in terms of the need to bring this country into line with what is happening in the rest of Europe?

We need to bring some of them in urgently in the sense that we are over time in regard to them. Ideally, we should have done this before now, but, as the Deputy will have noted from my reply, we are towards the top of the Community league and there are eight countries more remiss than us.