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Pillar report highlights “illegal and irresponsible” planning 7th July 2012 – Dublin. Environmental experts have said the development and implementation of the Government Food Harvest 2020 policy would be  “illegal and irresponsible” if it was carried out without a serious look at how it impacts on the long-term well-being of the country. The warning was […]

Environmental Pillar Consultation Response to: 7th Environmental Action Programme (7EAP)Consultation Download:Environmental Pillar Submission on the 7EAP  Consultation Response: May 2012 Contents Introduction to The Environmental Pillar – Who are we? 1.      The need for a strong 7th Environmental Action Programme – Stepping back from the Limits of Planetary Boundaries. 2.      Reduction of the EU’s Ecological […]

Download: Environmental Pillar Climate Submission Contents INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS, RESPONSIBILTY AND CAPABILITY MITIGATION COMMITMENTS GREEN ECONOMY POLICIES AND MEASURES Long-term effectiveness Transition to a low-carbon economy Environmental sustainability Equity Cost-effectiveness Approaches to policies and measures Putting a price on greenhouse gases Subsidies Regulation Information and awareness Incentives Financing LEGISLATION Targets Carbon Budgets National Mitigation Plans Annual […]

Download:BIM review Submission 10 April 2012 Mr. Nicholas Hoffman Secretary – BIM Critical Review Group c/o Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine National Seafood Centre Clonakilty, Co. Cork nicholas.hoffman@agriculture.gov.ie   10 April 2012 RE: Critical Review of Bord Iascaigh Mhara Dear Mr Hoffman The Environmental Pillar welcomes this opportunity to participate in the critical […]

Download:Environmental Pillar Submission Our Ocean Wealth

To An Taoiseach, The Minister for the Environment and the Government of Ireland The Access Initiative – National Coalition for Ireland Further to our letter of 28 February 2012, we, the Environmental Pillar, plus the undersigned environmental organisations, are writing to you as The Access Initiative’s (TAI) national coalition for Ireland.  TAI is the world’s […]

Open Letter to the Secretary General for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), Co-Chairs of the Bureau for Rio+20 and Member-States of the United Nations RIGHTS AT RISK AT THE UNITED NATIONS We – the civil society organizations and social movements who have responded to the call of the United Nations General Assembly […]

We the undersigned representatives of civil society organizations and social movements, Seeking to protect the United Nations historic recognition of the Human Right to water and Sanitation by the General Assembly and Human Rights Council through resolutions A/Res/64/292  and A/HRC/15/L/14 respectively, Concerned by European Union amendments to the UNCSD Zero Draft text which seeks to […]

Overview of this submission Download:Environmental Pillar Submission Interdepartmental Group on Property Tax 16 thMarch 2012 This document responds to the call for submissions with regard to the implementation of a property tax that is both simple to administer and fair. However the basis for this submission is that the introduction of a Site Value Tax […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the publication of this Draft FSDI, and the opportunity to submit a commentary on it. The draft brings together a wide range of important information, referencing some 84 policies, strategies and international agreements and covering most aspects of the three pillars of sustainability; social, environmental and economic. Although the Environmental Pillar […]

 Towards a Pan-European Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary The Environmental Pillar calls upon the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Members States to work together to establish a European Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary throughout European waters.  In this regard the Environmental Pillar calls upon the Irish Government to highlight the 21 year success story that […]

To the government of Ireland The Access Initiative – National Coalition for Ireland We, [the Environmental Pillar, plus the undersigned environmental organisations], are writing to you as The Access Initiative’s (TAI) national coalition for Ireland.  TAI is the world’s largest network of civil society organisations and activists working to ensure that people have the right […]

Seminar organized by the Marine Group of the Environmental Pillar, hosted by the European Parliament offices in Ireland Nov 18th 2011; 9.30 – 4 pm; EP Offices Molesworth Street Dublin   Download: Coastal-Resource-Protection-and-Management-18th-Nov-2011 Contains: Acknowledgements, Seminar programme, Summary, Workgroup outcomes, and List of participants Presentations 1.-Sustainable-inshore-fishery-Ilaria-Vielmini 2.-Razor-clams-Ed-Fahy 3.-NIEA-role-in-MPA-network-Joe-Breen 4.-Climate-change-adaptation-Kevin-Lynch 5.-Seagrass-ID-and-monitoring-Karin-Dubsky 6.-Nessa-Childers-MEP-Speech-EU-Marine-priorities-at-local-level-18-November-2011

Full text of letter to An Taoiseach Ref: Proposed incorporation of the Heritage Council with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht cc. Minister Phil Hogan, Minister Jimmy Deenihan Dear Taoiseach, The Environmental Pillar, whilst realising the necessity of cost savings across government, is very concerned at proposals to incorporate the Heritage Council into the […]

The Environmental Pillar expressed disappointment at today’s announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, that a Climate Change Bill is not a priority. This represents a significant backtrack on the Government’s commitment to deliver climate change legislation by 2012. Commenting on behalf of the Pillar today, Tara Connolly, convenor of the Pillar’s Climate […]

Download:Prosposals for the budget 2012 Summary The Environmental Pillar, which is a coalition of 27 national environmental NGOs, was established as a National Social Partner by Government in April 2009. In making this submission to Government it recognises that the public are reeling from the shock of the economic and fiscal crises. However it urges […]

There are two fundamental principles that need to be emphasised in developing this action plan in order for it to be both effective and transformative: It should be Sustainable Public Procurement It must involve everyone working in public authorities both in its development and its implementation Sustainable Public Procurement, unlike green procurement, incorporates the three […]

Environmental Pillar criticises the abolition of Comhar, the National Sustianable Development Council.  The Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership has expressed disappointment and concern at yesterday’s decision by the minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to abolish Comhar (the National Sustainable Development Council). Commenting on behalf of the Environmental Pillar, Pat Finnegan of Grian, a member of Comhar council […]

The Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of an understanding of Ireland’s contribution to the Rio +20 Conference on sustainable development. The major outcomes of the Rio Conference in 1992 “The Earth Summit” included the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, and the Sustainable Forest Principles. For the first time […]

  View more presentations from Environmental Pillar Download the Document Participatory Democracy-the-story of a Trojan-horse

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 […]

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

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 […]

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 […]