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Taxpayers face EU fines if Government does not act on European Court 'shellfish' ruling

Issued : Thursday 14 June, 2007

Dublin Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa has warned that Irish taxpayers face the prospect of very substantial EU fines if the Government does not act on today's ruling that Ireland is in breach of the EU 'shellfish' directive.

Mr De Rossa was responding to the judgment of the European Court of Justice that Ireland has failed to comply with its obligations under the 1979 Shellfish directive, which gives special protection to shellfish producing areas.

'There are at least 58 bays around Ireland's 2,700 mile coastline where shellfish are cultivated. However, according to the information made available to the ECJ, Ireland had implemented the anti-pollution measures required under the 1979 directive in only 14 of these.

'The practical affect of this ruling will be the upgrading of many old or inadequate sewage treatment systems in towns and villages around the coastline' Mr De Rossa said. It is estimated that this will cost hundreds of millions of euro.

'If the new Government does not comply, the EU now has the right to impose fines, possibly amounting to tens of thousands of euros a day.

'Not only has the Government failed to protect our coastal waters, it has also failed to recognise the potential of an industry involving over 200 small and medium-sized firms employing over 1,500 in peripheral areas and worth well over €50 million annually'.

'There is no excuse for the Government to prevaricate any further' Mr De Rossa concluded.