Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration: will a level playing field deliver cross-border alignment? The conclusion of negotiations on a Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration lay the groundwork for designing a future EU-UK relationship incorporating far-reaching environmental standards. In the Withdrawal Agreement the UK and the EU have committed to maintaining, as a minimum, the …
Brexit draft withdrawal agreement seeks to quell any rollback on environmental standards
November 16th, 2018 The Environmental Pillar welcomes the inclusion of a commitment in the draft withdrawal agreement to maintaining current levels of environmental protection across the island of Ireland post-Brexit. It also includes a clause designed to prevent any regression of environmental laws, regulations and practices in the UK or the EU following the Brexit next March 29th. This “non-regression” …
Budget 2019: Concern over possible State row back on carbon tax and diesel levy
Immediate Release Ireland’s largest environmental coalition is deeply concerned by reports that the Government is set to row back on hikes in carbon and diesel taxes. It was widely reported in the media this morning that both the proposed increase in the diesel levy and carbon tax are proving to be sticking points ahead of tomorrow’s Budget. The Environmental Pillar is deeply …
Budget 2019: Three key steps to avert climate catastrophe and solve housing crisis
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Government can take real action to tackle out of control emissions and an unacceptable housing crisis by adopting three common sense taxes in Budget 2019, says Ireland’s largest environmental coalition. The Environmental Pillar has called on the cabinet to support three tax policies that will protect our environment, tackle the escalating housing crisis and bring in …
Citizens’ Assembly recommendations will revolutionise Ireland’s climate policy
Immediate Release The recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly are the best foundation on which to lay the policy roadmap for real and lasting leadership in tackling climate change. This was the expert view that the Environmental Pillar outlined before a new 22-member Joint Oireachtas Committee to explore how best the State can lead on tackling climate change. [1][2] Built …
Fine Gael’s Green Week more spin than substance
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Fine Gael’s attempt to piggy-back on Heritage Week to burnish their environmental credentials is a clear attempt to paper over gaping holes in their environment and climate policy says a coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs. To mark the kick-off of his party’s Green Week, the Tánaiste Simon Coveney TD popped up on social media this morning to tell the world of …
Urgent action needed to halt deluge of waste clogging our coast
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Figures released today that 40 per cent of Irish coastal areas are badly littered is a clear sign that urgent action is needed to halt the deluge of waste clogging our cities, rural towns and marine environment. The findings in the Irish Business Against Litter survey carried out by An Taisce builds upon the All-Ireland Coastwatch Survey earlier this year …
Dark day for Irish biodiversity as Dail passes destructive Heritage Bill
Immediate Release The passage of the destructive Heritage Bill through the Dail marks a dark day for Irish biodiversity, Ireland’s leading environmental coalition has said. The Government’s Bill was voted through yesterday evening with the support of Fianna Fail despite widespread opposition from all other parties, environmentalists, conservation groups and farmers working together with biodiversity. [1] [2] The Bill will …
Brexit: NGO coalition calls on Barnier to stress need for cross-border environmental solution
Immediate Release n environmental coalition has called on Michel Barnier to stress the need for a solution to the border issue that maintains full alignment of environmental rules on the island of Ireland post-Brexit. The EU’s top Brexit negotiator will be in Ireland next week to give a keynote address at the fourth plenary meeting of the All-Island Civic Dialogue on …
Environmental NGOs concerned with Naughten’s decision on compostable throwaway cups
Immediate Release Environmental coalition concerned with Minister’s latest mixed bag of proposals to tackle the scourge of plastic pollution and packaging waste. Responding to questions in the Dail yesterday on plans to reduce plastic packaging, the Minister for the Environment, Denis Naughten, TD, said that he no longer plans to introduce a levy on single-use compostable coffee cups as retailers move to introduce …
