Environmental Pillar highlight serious deterioration in fish stocks behind recommendations to cut number of fish caught

Annual consultation by Minister Coveney with industry and environmental groups reveals catastrophic deterioration in fish stocks.   The Environmental Pillar wishes to highlight the serious deterioration of Ireland’s fish stocks which has prompted  recommendations by scientists to drastically reduce the numbers of fish caught next year.   The Environmental Pillar, which represents 28 national environmental […]

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Minister Coveney urged to extend agri-environment scheme into 2014 to fill ‘gap’

On Thursday 17 October 2013, the Environmental Pillar sent the following letter to Minister Coveney:   Dear Minister Coveney, Your intention, as we understand the reporting of it, is not to extend support for farmers coming out of REP4 or AEOS in to 2014. This is part of an attempt to save money and will […]

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Minister Coveney puts wildlife and agricultural sustainability at risk

10 July 2013: The Environmental Pillar is strongly critical of Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney bringing forward the mowing date for the traditional hay meadow option within the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). AEOS pays farmers to delay mowing of traditionally managed hay meadows until 15 July to allow the diversity of plant species to set seed, […]

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Aquaculture licencing appeals fees contrary to access to justice provisions of the Aarhus Convention

31 May 2013 Dear Minister Coveney, (cc. Minister Hogan) During the month of May you issued c.35 Aquaculture licences for the Castlemaine Harbour in Co Kerry. As you know, under  S.I. No. 309/2003 — Sea-Fishing Boat Licensing Appeals (Fees) Regulations 2003, anyone other than the applicant wishing to appeal against the issuing of these licences […]

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Environmental groups call for retention of AEOS scheme

The Environmental Pillar, an umbrella organisation that represents the Irish environment, has claimed that cancelling the AEOS scheme would be short-sighted. The group has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD, to open the AEOS scheme for 2011. “The AEOS scheme provides superb value for money to the taxpayer, even in straitened times,” […]

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