News

In the early hours of Friday morning, EU leaders in Brussels agreed three targets for carbon reductions in 2030. However, the Environmental Pillar are concerned at the low levels of these targets which see a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases, 27% increase in renewable energy and a 27% increase in energy efficiency over 1990 levels. […]

Sadhbh O’Neill In attendance as member of EPA advisory committee on GMOs, representing the Environmental Pillar. This symposium is an event to facilitate dialogue between the scientific experts across the EU and EEA on current trends in regulating the contained use and deliberate release of GMOs. This document is merely intended to be a personal […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 Environment Pillar is calling for urgent action to protect and restore marine habitats and biota including fish stocks around Ireland.  The Environmental Pillar welcomes the Marine Strategy Framework Directive as one of the key means to achieve this and urges that full timely implementation is now prioritised by government and stakeholders. The Directive provides […]

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 […]

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. […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the decision of the United Nation’s International Court of Justice, which has just announced its ruling that: Japan’s whaling is not scientific; and is therefore illegal, and that it must stop immediately. The Environmental Pillar believes that the rights of these complex social mammals need to be further protected by the […]

The Environmental Pillar has joined the calls to ask EU Commissioner De Gucht to provide transparency on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Several Civil Society groups, including Friends of the Earth, European Environmental Bureau, Transport and Environment, and Transparency International have written to Commissioner De Gucht calling for transparency on the EU’s negotiations in […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the establishment of new Public Participation Networks (PPNs) The PPNs will focus their attention on the well-being of the local communities for this and future generations, and will nominate representatives to a range of County Council committees including the new Local Community Development Committees. They will be made up of representatives […]