Submissions

Follow the link below to download the the submission from the Environmental Pillar, 23rd March 2015, to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s discussion document on the potential for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) mitigation within the Agriculture and Forestry Sector. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Environmental-Pillar-Submission-on-Agriculture-Roadmap.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo” icon_only=”true” […]

The Submission by the Environmental Pillar to the Public Consultation on the Regional Waste Management Plan was sent to each of the regional Waste Authorities in January 2015. The Resource Efficiency Working Group prepared the submission which details 15 recommendations including parameters for creating an effective database, appropriate waste prevention targets per capita per year […]

Fuel poverty is a question of the thermal efficiency of housing. In a market, generally the most inefficient housing will be occupied by those with the least purchasing power; whether as house-owners or as tenants. This is the case in Ireland. Therefore eliminating fuel poverty will require the thermal upgrade of the vast bulk of […]

The Environmental Pillar calls on the Irish Government to actively seek the completion of the EU Legally Binding Agreement on Forests (LBA). Sustainably managed natural and semi-natural forests are an infinitely renewable resource and deserve to be granted the highest priority in this LBA. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-Statement-on-an-EU-Legally-Binding-Agreement-on-Forestry.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, […]

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 […]

The Environmental Pillar made a submission to the public consultation on Investing in our Transport Future – A Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-Submission-to-the-Public-Consultation-on-Investing-in-our-transport-future-1.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if […]

The Environmental Pillar made a substantive submission on the SEA for the draft Forestry Programme 2014 to 2020. In it a number of issues were raised including: climate change impacts, lack of support for agroforestry, native woodland conservation, biodiversity, water protection and other management measures. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-submission-on-draft-forestry-programme-2014-2020.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomed the opportunity to comment on the European Commission’s Communication on Fishing Opportunities for 2015. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-Response-to-the-Commissions-Consultation-on-Fisheries-Opportunities-2015.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if you have decided to show a popover.”] Click […]

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 […]

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 made a summary submission on the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 calling on the government to back a number of initiatives designed to boost jobs sustainably. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-Submission-to-the-Public-Consultation-on-Investing-in-our-transport-future-1.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo”  icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only […]

The Draft National Risk Assessment has an explicit goal of ensuring that Ireland’s terrible reversal of fortune never recurs. In this context the Environmental Pillar would like to highlight the gaps in the risk assessment in terms of biodiversity, health, agriculture, forestry, and the greening of the economy. [button href=”https://environmentalpillar.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Environmental-Pillar-submission-on-the-National-Risk-Assessment-2014.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” […]

Click here to download the Environmental Pillar Submission on Forestry Bill 2013 [button href=”http://environmentalpillar.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Environmental-Pillar-Submission-on-Forestry-Bill-2013-Posted-on-January-28-2014.pdf” title=”Title” target=”blank” shape=”square, rounded, pill” size=”mini, small, regular, large, x-large, jumbo” icon_only=”true” info=”popover, tooltip” info_place=”top, right, bottom, left” info_trigger=”hover, click, focus” info_content=”This content will only show up if you have decided to show a popover.”] Click here to see the full […]

A green economy should be a driver of competitiveness, security of supply and sustainability. The Green Economy should incorporate the whole economy rather than be a niche or a subset. The UNEP definition of a Green Economy as one that results in “improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Development of a National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland. We offer the following comments which we believe will be helpful in developing an holistic National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development. The incorporation of sustainability into all aspects of life is essential, […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the opportunity to comment on the preparation of the Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020. We offer the following comments which we believe will be helpful in directing the programme towards the establishment of an industry, capable of supporting coastal communities, low-impact fishing and employment in processing. The Programme must be based on […]

The Environmental Pillar produced this submission in response to the government’s outline Heads of a Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill.  

We acknowledge that a number of our comments have been taken on board in the second draft and we are glad that the Department found them useful. In addition, we note that others haven’t been taken on board and we hope that we can discuss these issues further with the Department in the future. Given […]

15 May 2013: The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 26 national environmental organisations, is calling for key reforms to Ireland’s bioenergy policy. The benefits of these reforms would be felt in many rural communities in terms of long-term investment and job creation. Without these reforms, Ireland will struggle to meet its renewable energy targets without […]

Although reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are the primary driver for bioenergy policies, the full life cycle emissions of forms of different bioenergy are not yet fully understood but are known to vary dramatically. Even where biofuels are grown on land already in cultivation, this can lead to the displacement of food crops and other […]

This research should not just be aimed at answering the question: can we undertake Fracking in Ireland without causing environmental damage here, and without increasing Ireland’s Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. The research should also address the question of the environmental impact of the extraction of global shale gas reserves for the agreed target of […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Draft EPA Strategic Plan 2013-2015. Recognising that this is an outline plan, and that the devil may well be in the detail of implementation, the members of the Environmental Pillar make the recommendations below in the context of the Pillar’s fundamental position that: The continuing […]