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The Environmental Pillar is calling on the Department of Transport to prioritise Ireland’s rail services as a way to address climate change. This comes on the back of a consultation document on transport investment, prepared by the Department, which discusses cutting rail services and ignores government commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Environmental Pillar, which […]

Investment in Social Housing The Environmental Pillar today welcome government investment of €2.2bn in social housing provision but are calling on the government to ensure this housing is of the highest energy efficiency. Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin today announced an investment of €2.2bn for social housing provision over the next three […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes moves by the government to address the problem of developers hoarding zoned and serviced land and calls for the introduction of a site value tax. Minister for Finance Michael Noonan today stated that a public consultation will be launched on the issues of developers allowing sites to lay derelict as they […]

The Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes the marine measures in the budget but warns that the increase in the blue economy must not come at the cost of small fishermen and the environment. The proposed Marine Tax review is an opportunity to focus tax support on smaller specialist fishing vessels that can fish sustainably and provide […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes a number of tax measures that will benefit farmers and farming communities but warns that increases in productivity must not come at the cost of Ireland’s biodiversity. Minister for Finance Michael Noonan highlighted the importance of land availability for young farmers wishing to expand in the industry and will provide Irish […]

The Environmental Pillar made a submission to the public consultation on Investing in our Transport Future – A Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-Submission-to-the-Public-Consultation-on-Investing-in-our-transport-future-1.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if […]

The Environmental Pillar made a substantive submission on the SEA for the draft Forestry Programme 2014 to 2020. In it a number of issues were raised including: climate change impacts, lack of support for agroforestry, native woodland conservation, biodiversity, water protection and other management measures. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-submission-on-draft-forestry-programme-2014-2020.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, […]

At the National Ploughing Championships 2014, the Environmental Pillar launched a report into how Ireland’s biodiversity can help in the fight against climate change. The report entitled ‘Ireland’s Biodiversity: Our natural ally in the fight against climate change’ outlines how protecting natural habitats is an important and cost effective option for government to store carbon and […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomed the opportunity to comment on the European Commission’s Communication on Fishing Opportunities for 2015. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-Response-to-the-Commissions-Consultation-on-Fisheries-Opportunities-2015.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if you have decided to show a popover.”] Click […]

Ireland’s current legislative framework falls short of what is required under article 9(1) of the Aarhus Convention. The convention is an international agreement which guarantees access to information, public participation and justice in relation to environmental matters. The Environmental Pillar made a submission to the public consultation on Access to Justice and Implementation of Article 9 […]

The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 26 national environmental groups, has expressed its disappointment that the Government’s proposed National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems does not contain enough detail to allow a meaningful public discussion. Charles Stanley-Smith, spokesperson for the Environmental Pillar, said: ‘When you think about the potential risks to our […]

This submission recommends ways of broadening the tax base and using the limited financial resources in a way that focuses on long term sustainability, whilst creating employment and stimulating the economy in the short term. In making this submission to the Government it recognises that the public are still reeling from the shock of the economic […]

Smart Taxes (www.smarttaxes.org) recently organised a workshop on NAMA designed specifically for members of the Environmental Pillar. The workshop consisted of a morning session devoted to NAMA and comprised a number of leading economists presenting their views on NAMA, with a question and answer session following each presentation. Video footage of the event is available, […]

The Environmental Pillar sent this letter to all TDs on 5 November 2013, asking them to support the inclusion of this definition of ‘public authorities’ in the Freedom of Information Bill   Dear Deputy, The new Freedom of Information Bill is a step forward in many ways, but at present it is missing one opportunity. […]

The Environmental Pillar say in its submission that the eventual White Paper should define a vision for Ireland’s future energy system which provides an overarching framework within which decisions on energy policy are made. The key messages from the submission are: EU targets for renewable energy in all sectors including transport and reducing energy demand […]

The Environmental Pillar made a summary submission on the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 calling on the government to back a number of initiatives designed to boost jobs sustainably. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-Submission-to-the-Public-Consultation-on-Investing-in-our-transport-future-1.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only […]

The Draft National Risk Assessment has an explicit goal of ensuring that Ireland’s terrible reversal of fortune never recurs. In this context the Environmental Pillar would like to highlight the gaps in the risk assessment in terms of biodiversity, health, agriculture, forestry, and the greening of the economy. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-submission-on-the-National-Risk-Assessment-2014.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” […]

 The Environmental Pillar Policy on the TTIP CETA and TISA June 2014 The Environmental Pillardenounces the lack of transparency of the negotiations, the lack of democratic participation in the development of the negotiation mandate and the lack of democratic control over the negotiations regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) […]

The Environmental Pillar is concerned that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) currently being negotiated could force Ireland to permit fracking against the will of the Irish people. The trade deal, as currently envisaged, would allow for companies banned from fracking in Ireland to take legal action against the country under an onerous new […]

The Environmental Pillar are calling on Ministers Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney to stop burying their heads in the sand over Ireland’s climate change commitments.  While the government has cut emissions in some areas the EPA figures released today show that the Agriculture and Transport sectors alone have set Ireland on course to miss our […]

For immediate release The European Commission’s withdrawal of two crucial pieces of environmental policy at the moment that citizens across Europe are voting in the European elections sends a bad signal as to what Europe’s priorities are. The formal withdrawal of the 2003 proposal for a Directive on Access to Justice underlines the urgent need for the Commission […]

Here are the highlights from the Environmental Hustings for MEP candidates in the Dublin constituency. Six candidates attended the event which was held in Wynns Hotel in Dublin on Friday May 16th. Emer Costello of Labour, Mary Fitzpatrick of Fianna Fáil, Paul Murphy of the Socialist Party, Eamon Ryan of the Green Party, Nessa Childers Independent and […]

Here are the highlights from the Environmental Hustings for MEP candidates in the South constituency. Three candidates attended the event which was held in the Gresham Metropole Hotel in Cork on Tuesday May 13th. Kieran Hartley of Fianna Fáil, Jan Van de Ven of Direct Democracy Ireland and Donal O’Riordan of Fís Nua were quizzed […]

Four European candidates attended the Environmental Hustings in Carrick-on-Shannon last week. Here we bring you the highlights from the event as each candidate grappled with questions set by the Environmental Pillar and ones from the floor. Each of the candidates responses have been grouped together so you can see where they stand on the issues. […]