The Minister for the Environment John Gormley has said that he has had long and frank exchange of views with European Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas.
The two ministers met today for the first time since Mr Gormley became Minister for the Environment to discuss a number of environmental issues.
"I was pleased to meet Commissioner Dimas today and we had a long and frank exchange of views on a number of areas and we covered a lot of ground.
"I have assured Commissioner Dimas of my intention to solve our difficulties as we move forward. I explained to him my concern and willingness to resolve our problems particularly under the Habitats & Birds Directive. I have asked for a road-map on how we can best avoid and deal with infringement proceedings going forward," said Minister Gormley.
The two men also discussed Ireland's implementation of the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessment in relation to the Lismullin national monument found on the route of the controversial M3 motorway near Navan, Co Meath.
"The issues associated with Ireland's implementation of the EIA Directive are complex and have been ongoing for a number of years, and Lismullin has recently been cited in the additional opinion.
"This matter requires full and detailed consideration and we will be responding to the Commission as quickly as possible," added Mr Gormley.
Mr Gormley said that both he and Commissioner Dimas shared the hope that a major step forward will be taken at the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in December.
"It is essential that we end informal exploratory discussions and commence a round of formal negotiations that will lead to a new treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.
"Time is getting very tight, in that the new treaty must be finalised in 2009 if we are to avoid a gap at the end of the Kyoto Protocol commitment period in 2012," said Mr Gormley.