The Commission explained its decision by stating, in summary, that (i) ensuring compliance with Community environmental law is primarily the responsibility of Member States; (ii) a court case brought by the Commission against Ireland in relation precisely to the Waste Directive had been successful (Case C-494/01); (iii) in the case of general and persistent breaches of Community law, the Commission’s administrative resources are best employed in seeking structural reform; and (iv) one reform achieved in Ireland was the creation in 2003 of an O ce of Environmental Enforcement (OEE), which the complainant could now turn to with her specific grievances.
Mhínigh an Coimisiún an cinneadh a rinne sé trína rá (go hachomair): (i) Is ar na Ballstáit go príomha atá an dualgas dlí comhshaoil an Chomhphobail a chomhlíonadh; (ii) D’éirigh leis an gCoimisiún sa chás a thug sé in aghaidh na hÉireann i dtaca leis an Treoir sin maidir le Dramhaíl (Cás C-494/01); (iii) Is é an leas is fearr ar féidir a bhaint as acmhainní riaracháin an Choimisiúin nuair a bhíonn sáruithe ginearálta buana a dhéanamh ar Dlí an Chomphobail ná iarracht a dhéanamh leasú struchtúrach a fháil; (iv) D’éirigh leo leasú amháin a bhaint amach in Éirinn nuair a bunaíodh an Oifig um Fhorfheidhmiú Comhshaoil (OEE), agus go bhféadadh an gearánaí na hábhair chasaoide faoi leith a bhí aici a chur faoina bráid.