Press Releases
Climate hot on the agenda at MEP husting in Dublin
Immediate ReleaseOver 150 citizens are set to gauge where EU election candidates stand on key environmental and climate issues at a public debate in Co Dublin this Friday before polling stations open in May. The sold-out event in the Wynn Hotel in Dublin on Friday, 3 May will see concerned citizens challenge candidates from across […]
Climate hot on the agenda at election hustings in Leitrim
Immediate Release Over 100 citizens are set to gauge where EU election candidates stand on key environmental and climate issues at a public debate in Co Leitrim this month before polling stations open in May. The event in the Bush Hotel in Carrick-On-Shannon on Friday, 26 April will see concerned citizens challenge candidates from across […]
Irish must vote en masse for climate action in European elections
Immediate Release It’s vital that citizens voice their concerns to MEP candidates over climate change and biodiversity loss in advance of the European elections, Ireland’s leading environmental coalition has said. The need is even more pressing, the Environmental Pillar said, following the release of a new report today calling out Ireland’s largest parties for their […]
Biodiversity measures in Committee climate report welcomed
Immediate Release Calls from the Oireachtas Climate Action Committee to protect biodiversity and recognise the vital role of a healthy environment in tackling climate change is welcomed by Ireland’s leading environmental coalition. The nature-friendly recommendations are included in the Committee’s report officially launched today that will feed into Government policy in tackling climate change. The report follows […]
Report on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, Brexit & the Environment
The executive summary of the report is available here: https://nienvironmentlink.org/cmsfiles/Brexit-GFA-report-SUMMARY.pdf The full report is available here: https://nienvironmentlink.org/cmsfiles/Brexit-GFA-report-FULL.pdf Please see media release below April 16th, 2019 Unleashing the full potential of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement could address some of the main risks posed by Brexit to the environment of the island of Ireland, a new report […]
Climate hot on the agenda as Irish youth tell MEP candidates to act on climate
Young Irish citizens on the frontline of climate activism took centre stage at an event in the capital this evening to tell MEP candidates what needs to be done in Brussels to tackle the crisis of their generation. The Loud & Clear! Youth views on Climate event at the European Parliament office in Co Dublin featured a […]
Environmental coalition raises alarm over Skellig Michael management plan
January 10th 2019 – immediate release Environmental groups and the public are being left in the dark over the Government’s plans to manage Skellig Michael, Ireland’s largest environmental coalition has said. The comments from the Environmental Pillar come in the wake of the launch of a public consultation in late December on the next management […]
Extension of public consultation on controversial upland burning welcomed by environmental coalition
Immediate Release – 9 January 2019 The Environmental Pillar has welcomed the Government’s decision to extend a public consultation on controversial upland burning regulations after it raised concerns over the decision to hold the consultation during the Christmas holidays. The consultation process was launched on 21 December 2018 with the original deadline set for 18 […]
Environmental Pillar cautiously welcomes the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
New public-private woodland scheme is window-dressing to cover up decades-old failed forestry policy
Immediate Release The latest public-p rivate native woodland funding scheme is window-dressing to cover up the State’s decades-old failed forestry policy, warns environmental coalition. The call from the Environmental Pillar follows last week’s launch of a public – private fund to support businesses in partnering with the Government and Irish landowners in the creation of […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Experts warn Oireachtas Committee about concerns over UK's plans to expand nuclear program
Irish and International experts warn Oireachtas Committee about serious deficiencies in the UK’s assessment of plans to expand its nuclear power program and the potential impact on Ireland. Speaking in front of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government this afternoon (12PM), Professors John Sweeney and Stephen Thomas outlined serious flaws in the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nature Scorecard shines light on Ireland's failure to protect its natural heritage and internationally important habitats and species
Immediate Release The Irish state is failing in its duty to fully implement European Directives vital to protect numerous threatened species and habitats on our island. This is the finding of a new report published today by leading environmental NGOs, BirdLife Europe, WWF, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Friends of the Earth Europe. [1] The […]
Press Conference on State's failure to consult Irish people on UK nuclear expansion
Concerns about the UK’s nuclear expansion program and Ireland’s failures to consult with the Irish public were raised today by TDs and Senators from across the political spectrum, together with environmental NGOs, academics and the agricultural sector. The broad grouping came together for a briefing at Buswell’s Hotel at 11AM this morning organised by the Environmental […]
International Day of Forests shows need for complete reform of failing State policy
EMBARGOED: 12.01AM Wednesday 21 March 2018 As International Day of Forests falls upon us, Ireland’s latest forestry figures point to an urgent need for a root and branch reform of our failing forestry policy. [1] According to the Environmental Pillar – a coalition of 30 national environmental organisations – data in Ireland’s latest Forest Statistics […]
New forestry figures point to urgent need for root and branch reform of failing State policy
Immediate Release Ireland’s latest forestry figures are a clear sign of the urgent need for a root and branch reform of failing forestry policy, warns a coalition of environmental groups. According to the Environmental Pillar – a coalition of 30 national environmental organisations -the Forest Statistics Ireland 2017 report gives false reassurances that Ireland’s afforestation […]
