January 10th 2019 – immediate release Environmental groups and the public are being left in the dark over the Government’s plans to manage Skellig Michael, Ireland’s largest environmental coalition has said. The comments from the Environmental Pillar come in the wake of the launch of a public consultation in late December on the next management plan of this important UNESCO …
Extension of public consultation on controversial upland burning welcomed by environmental coalition
Immediate Release – 9 January 2019 The Environmental Pillar has welcomed the Government’s decision to extend a public consultation on controversial upland burning regulations after it raised concerns over the decision to hold the consultation during the Christmas holidays. The consultation process was launched on 21 December 2018 with the original deadline set for 18 January 2019, a period that …
Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration
Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration: will a level playing field deliver cross-border alignment? The conclusion of negotiations on a Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration lay the groundwork for designing a future EU-UK relationship incorporating far-reaching environmental standards. In the Withdrawal Agreement the UK and the EU have committed to maintaining, as a minimum, the …
Brexit draft withdrawal agreement seeks to quell any rollback on environmental standards
November 16th, 2018 The Environmental Pillar welcomes the inclusion of a commitment in the draft withdrawal agreement to maintaining current levels of environmental protection across the island of Ireland post-Brexit. It also includes a clause designed to prevent any regression of environmental laws, regulations and practices in the UK or the EU following the Brexit next March 29th. This “non-regression” …
Budget 2019: Concern over possible State row back on carbon tax and diesel levy
Immediate Release Ireland’s largest environmental coalition is deeply concerned by reports that the Government is set to row back on hikes in carbon and diesel taxes. It was widely reported in the media this morning that both the proposed increase in the diesel levy and carbon tax are proving to be sticking points ahead of tomorrow’s Budget. The Environmental Pillar is deeply …
Political Declaration on future EU-UK relationship must deliver on environment
October 5th, 2018 The coming weeks are critical for the Brexit negotiations and the future EU-UK relationship. Negotiations are intensifying in the build-up to the October European Council summit, with the added bonus of a possible extraordinary summit in November at which an Agreement will be presented. Accompanying any Withdrawal [Brexit] Agreement will be a Political Declaration on the future …
New public-private woodland scheme is window-dressing to cover up decades-old failed forestry policy
Immediate Release The latest public-p rivate native woodland funding scheme is window-dressing to cover up the State’s decades-old failed forestry policy, warns environmental coalition. The call from the Environmental Pillar follows last week’s launch of a public – private fund to support businesses in partnering with the Government and Irish landowners in the creation of native woodlands. [1] The Woodland …
Brexit Briefing: level playing field for environment on the island of Ireland
The Environmental Pillar and Northern Ireland Environment Link, who together represent almost 100 environmental organisations from across the island of Ireland, are working together to draw attention to the cross-border environmental implications of Brexit – one of six key areas of cooperation outlined by the North-South Ministerial Council as established under the Good Friday Agreement. The below document outlines a …
Budget 2019: Three key steps to avert climate catastrophe and solve housing crisis
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Government can take real action to tackle out of control emissions and an unacceptable housing crisis by adopting three common sense taxes in Budget 2019, says Ireland’s largest environmental coalition. The Environmental Pillar has called on the cabinet to support three tax policies that will protect our environment, tackle the escalating housing crisis and bring in …
Will nature be on the European Council menu?
September 19th, 2018 Both today and tomorrow, EU leaders are gathering in Salzburg for an informal Council summit that will end with a working lunch (sans Theresa May) to discuss Brexit. On the menu is likely to be the state of play in the negotiations on the key withdrawal issues (including the Irish backstop) and an exchange of views regarding …
