Environmental Pillar

Working for a Sustainable Future

Letter to Ministers re: the need to reform the legal mandates of Coillte, Bord Na Móna and other public bodies

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Dear Ministers,  We, the Environmental Pillar, Stop Climate Chaos and the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) are strongly of the view that public land must be utilised in the public interest and that all public bodies must be mandated to lead in Ireland’s response to climate change and biodiversity loss. The Irish people should have a […]

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Coillte, Bord Na Móna and other public bodies in urgent need of reform 

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE 16 February 2023 In a letter sent to Irish Ministers and other elected officials this week, the Environmental Pillar, Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and Sustainable Water Network called on the Government to amend mandates and legislation to ensure public bodies are fit to deliver on Ireland’s climate, biodiversity, and water objectives.  A lack […]

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Environmental Pillar (2022) Coillte’s Strategic Vision For Its Future Forest Estate

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This is a submission on behalf of the Environmental Pillar in response to the public  consultation on Coillte’s strategic vision for its future forest estate. Our submission is informed by the decades of experience of our members who are actively involved in woodland conservation, sustainable forestry management, regulation of the forestry sector and wider environmental […]

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Government planning bill brings more dysfunction, delay and uncertainty for housing

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27 January 2023 Deeply troubling changes to Ireland’s planning legislation have been proposed by the Government with the publication of the Draft Planning and Development Bill 2022. The bill makes fundamental changes to the current system of access to justice in the Planning and Development Act 2000. If passed, the Bill would drastically […]

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Only an ambitious Nature Restoration Law will deliver for Irish peatlands

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15 December 2022 A report from the Environmental Pillar highlights that a new EU law could present a golden opportunity for Ireland to meet its national commitments for peatland restoration while investing in farm communities to protect peatlands.  The proposed Nature Restoration Law contains a range of actions and targets to cut greenhouse […]

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Environmental Pillar Letter to PEFC International Calling for the Suspension of Draft PEFC Irish National Forest Standard Public consultation on behalf of PEFC Social and Environmental Stakeholder Group

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To the Directors of PEFC International. I am writing to you on behalf of the Environmental Pillar, an organisation that works to represent the views of 32 of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs. We work to promote environmental sustainability and the protection of our natural environment. We are the largest NGO stakeholder in the PEFC process, […]

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Major planning changes proposed before and after Christmas

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13 December 2022 Today at cabinet the Government approved a new consolidated Planning Bill on foot of the review of the Attorney General of the Planning and Development Act1, with the changes to the Act to be advanced within the Oireachtas in the new year. The outline2 for this bill published today is raising […]

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Supporting greater ambition for Ireland’s Peatlands in the EU Nature Restoration law

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Summary: we welcome the targets within the NRL proposal to restore and rewet drained peatlands and organic soils under agricultural use. Rather than being onerous the NRL is an opportunity to garner EU support for our existing national commitments. However, further clarification is needed on definitions and financing. We call on Irish leaders in the […]

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Government rushes planning legislation, eroding independence & public confidence in An Bord Pleanála

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IMMEDEIATE RELEASE 6 December 2022 The Government has moved to bypass the remaining stages of pre-legislative scrutiny for major legislation in a push to get the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 passed before the Christmas Recess next week. The bill as proposed will compromise the independence of An Bord Pleanála and undermine […]

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Ireland’s Draft Forest Strategy (2022 – 2030)

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This is a submission on behalf of the Environmental Pillar in response to the public consultation on Ireland’s Forest Strategy (2022 – 2030) and the associated implementation plans, and the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment obligations pertaining. Click here to read the full Environmental Pillar submission on Irelands Draft Forest Strategy (2022 – 2030). […]

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