Press Releases

The Irish environmental movement has lost another of its champions and passionate advocates with the sad passing of Michael Ewing. One of Ireland’s great environmentalists, he played a central role in the movement and was a leading figure in the Irish Environmental Network and Environmental Pillar for many years. In 2008, he was employed by […]

The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and the Environmental Pillar (1) at a meeting with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius today urged him to stick with the decision to reduce Ireland’s derogation limit to 220 kg nitrogen per hectare. “We impressed upon Commissioner Sinkevičius that we have reached a critical point in tackling water quality in Ireland,” said […]

The Environmental Pillar and the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) are urgently seeking a meeting with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius to discuss Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation during his visit to Ireland on Nov 23rd. It is important that the Commissioner comes away from Ireland with a balanced and informed view of civil society’s attitude to the Commission’s position […]

The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, has given a cautious welcome to the Nature Restoration Law which was agreed last night following negotiations between the EU Parliament, Commission and Council. But it still has concerns over concessions on the Commission’s original proposals and weaker targets in some areas. The new law sets a […]

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Andrew St Ledger. Andrew was an active member of our network and a passionate advocate for native woodland and the wider environment. His energy, enthusiasm, passion and knowledge about our native forests and his willingness to share that knowledge were legendary in the […]

The Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s environmental NGO advocacy coalition, has welcomed the commitment to a €3 billion fund for investing in climate and nature projects announced in Budget 2024. Oisín Coghlan, Environmental Pillar spokesperson and Director of Friends of the Earth Ireland said: “While not all we asked for, this is still a significant announcement and […]

A guide published for the new Planning and Development bill approved by cabinet on Tuesday, has raised serious alarms already within the Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition of national eNGOs. The guide indicates “substantial modifications” will be made to the current rules on Judicial Review in the Planning and Development Act 2000, and outlines the changes. The new […]

Press Release Monday 18th September 2023 Environmental Pillar calls for establishment of Climate and Nature Restoration Fund in Budget 2024 Budget must also prioritise protecting the most vulnerable while progressing to a safer environment The projected €65 billion surplus in the years ahead presents a unique opportunity for the establishment of a dedicated Climate and […]

Today the European parliament voted to adopt an EU Nature Restoration Law. At the outset of today’s plenary vote the European Parliament voted against the rejection of the draft law in a tight vote. Irish MEPs’ votes were critical in the end as all thirteen voted against the rejection amendment in a vote where only […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 30 May 2023 A coalition of leading environmental organisations are rallying together from across Ireland in a call for political leaders to support an ambitious Nature Restoration Law. At the Rally to Restore Nature, scientists, activists, community leaders and other members of society will demand that restoration of nature be placed at the […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 May 2023 The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition of 32 environmental non-governmental organisations, is demanding that leaders in Government pause and re-evaluate their strategy on the proposed new Planning Bill1. Government must listen to and address the major concerns that have come forward from a diverse range of stakeholders on the delays, […]

The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss issued a final report today with 159 recommendations on how Ireland can improve its response to the biodiversity crisis. The report underscores the serious and chronic failure by the State to adequately fund and enforce existing laws to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.  The 99 members of the Citizens’ […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

No time to waste: Budget 2023 must Prioritise Biodiversity, Climate and Protecting the Vulnerable.   23 September 2022   IMMEDIATE RELEASE  The Government must prioritise biodiversity, climate and protecting the vulnerable in Budget 2023 according to the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s largest coalition of environmental groups. The dual climate and biodiversity crises require urgent action and […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE  The lack of discussion around food systems at the COP26 conference in Glasgow is entirely unacceptable and the same approach cannot be taken here in Ireland, the Environmental Pillar has said.  Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups has closely been following the ongoing negotiations in Scotland and while there have been some overall […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Ireland must put its money where its mouth is with the new and soon-to-be-published Climate Action Plan as its delegation prepares to take part in international climate negotiations in Glasgow.  This is the call from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups, who are urging the Government to ensure the highly […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Measures in the draft CAP Strategic Plan fall far short of what’s needed to address the biodiversity and climate crisis, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups has said.   Representatives from the Environmental Pillar met with Minister Charlie McConalogue and Minister Pippa Hackett on Friday 16 October and stated clearly that the actions and […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Environmental Pillar is dismayed with a recent proposed change in Ireland’s CAP Strategic plan by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to cut the space for nature requirement on Irish farms, from 5% to just 4% at a recent Common Agriculture Policy consultation meeting.The Department also proposes to further weaken […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE  The Government must put its money where its mouth is in the upcoming 2022 National Budget in order to address our worsening climate and biodiversity crises.  This is the call from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s largest coalition of environmental groups, who have recommended a number of measures to confront these twin crises while […]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE  The newly published Food Vision 2030 Strategy is yet another detrimental blueprint for agriculture which regrettably takes its place amongst a series of failed policies for the sector.  This is the warning from the Environmental Pillar, Ireland’s leading coalition of environmental groups, who reluctantly withdrew from the industry-dominated Strategy (formerly known as the […]