Dáil Question No: 349

To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that EU Directive 2004/49/EC, the Railway Safety Directive, will be implemented before 30 April 2006; if the directive will not be implemented by 30 April 2006 the reason Ireland will not meet its obligations to implement this directive before the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

- Ruairi Quinn.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 4th April, 2006.
Ref No:   12946/06

Answered by the Minister for Transport  (Martin Cullen TD)

REPLY

The Railway Safety Act, 2005 provides for the implementation of most of the provisions of the EU Directive 2004/49/EC (Railway Safety Directive) including Articles 16 and 21 which require the establishment of a national railway safety authority and  a railway incident investigation unit respectively.  My Department is currently drafting regulations to provide for the transposition of the remaining elements of  the Directive.  It is the intention to do this by the end of April 2006.