Environmental Pillar

Working for a Sustainable Future

Levy on Incineration: letter to Minister Hogan

Full text of letter to Minister Hogan Ref: Levy on Incineration Dear Minister Hogan, It must be stated from the outset that the Environmental Pillar is opposed to the use of mass burn incineration as a part of the waste management strategy.  This opposition is based on the many impacts that incineration will have on […]

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Initial Submission on the Proposal to Introduce a Packaging Levy

Follow the link to download the initial submission on the proposal to introduce a packaging levy: Environmental-Pillar-Submission-on-the-Proposal-to-Introduce-a-Packaging-levy

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Speech to the Aarhus Convention Meeting of the Parties Wed 29th June 2011

Text of speech by Michael Ewing, Coordinator of the Environmental Pillar Thank you chair The European ECO Forum would like to begin by thanking the Chair of the Task Force on Public Participation for his comprehensive and thoughtful report, and the members of the Task Force for their hard work to date in what is […]

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Environmental Pillar criticises Jim Higgins MEP’s support for overfishing

Dublin – 9th May 2011. The Environmental Pillar of social partnership has criticised Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins’ support for increasing fishing industry subsidies. Higgins is supporting European People’s Party members in calling for the Commission to double the financial assistance paid towards fuel costs for the fishing industry, because of rising oil prices.  But […]

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Ireland’s Environmental Pillar says forests must remain in public hands

Dublin – 21st April 2011. The Environmental Pillar of social partnership has called on Fine Gael and Labour to restate their commitment to the continued public ownership of Coillte. This follows Minister Brendan Howlin’s indications that he would not delay in moving on the sale of state assets identified in the McCarthy Report published yesterday. […]

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Environmental groups call for retention of AEOS scheme

The Environmental Pillar, an umbrella organisation that represents the Irish environment, has claimed that cancelling the AEOS scheme would be short-sighted. The group has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD, to open the AEOS scheme for 2011. “The AEOS scheme provides superb value for money to the taxpayer, even in straitened times,” […]

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Taoiseach urged to reform Seanad by nominating environmentalists

The Environmental Pillar, an umbrella organisation that represents the Irish environment, called on the Taoiseach today to “begin a radical reform of the Seanad” by including leading environmental scientists and representatives in his list of Seanad nominees. “The scientific evidence shows that environmental degradation is occurring now, and that it is a growing threat to […]

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Environmental Pillar asks incoming government to to set Ireland on the road to sustainable future

The Environmental Pillar, which is made up of 27 national environmental groups, has asked the incoming government to ensure that it protects the fundamental needs of our society and economy by protecting and enhancing the natural environment.  In a detailed submission to the Fine Gael and Labour Parties, the Environmental Pillar outlined what is needed […]

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Proposals for the Programme for Government 2011 onwards

Introduction The continuing success of human society and social systems depends fundamentally on the preservation of the overall productivity, health and long term sustainability of the ecosystems and environmental services that underpin and supply many of the most basic components of human welfare such as healthy soils, clean water, clean air and a healthy biodiversity. […]

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Ireland to be fined €26 million and daily fines of €33,000

The Environmental Pillar calls on the Government: to take seriously its role as protector of the natural resources that are fundamental to all life, including human; to fully implement the Water Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive, and the EIA Directive; and in so doing to avoid the Irish taxpayer having to face […]

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