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10" March 2005

Mr David O'Sullivan
Secretary-General
Secretariat-General
European Commission
200 Rue de laLloi
B-1049 Brussels

 

Dear Secretary-General

| have been asked by my authorities to refer to Commission Letter of Formal
Notice under Article 228 of the Treaty dated 22 December 2004 (reference
SG-Greffe(2004) D/206145) concerning the measures taken by Ireland to
comply with the judgment of the European Court of Justice dated 11 March
2004 in case C-396/01 regarding Ireland’s implementation of Directive
91/676/EEC.

The Article 228 letter raised significant policy issues which require careful
consideration at Ministerial level and by Government. My authorities have
asked me to indicate at this stage that Ireland is working towards a
resolution of the Nitrates issue and is in ongoing positive discussions with
senior officials of the Commission.

In this context, my authorities have requested me to seek the Commission’s
agreement to a one month extension of the time limit set for Ireland’s reply to
the Article 228 letter, in effect, from 22 March 2005 to 22 April 2005.

 

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Yours sincerely,

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DEAN:

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CC Ms Catherine Day and I
” (Legal Division, DG Environment)

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