An Taisce, The National Trust for Ireland welcomes this week’s decision of the European Courts of Justice about Ireland's transposition and implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment directive (judgement c-50/09).

 

Summarizing this complex case, Ian Lumley, An Taisce's Heritage Officer stated:

 

"This decision has landmark repercussions for the way Environmental Impact Assessment is carried out in Ireland and the transparency of this process.  An Taisce welcomes this as a long awaited clarification that there are serious issues with the way EIA is conducted in Ireland"

 

"The judgement also has significant implications for split decision making between agencies such as the EPA, HSE and An Bord Pleanála, which has been an issue associated with a number of major applications including the incinerator at Duleek and the Glandis wood processing factory at Leap in Offaly. Currently we are in the absurd position where there is no obligation for different licensing organisations to actually talk to each other to make sure their rulings work together" he continued.

 

In the light of a recent decision announced by the European Commission to ask the ECJ to pursue fines against Ireland for not complying with the court’s decisions, An Taisce believes that it is imperative that the new Government address the issues raised by this most recent judgement in a timely and effective fashion. We expect that the new Government will be keen not to squander further scarce economic resources on wholly avoidable fines that could run to tens of millions.

 

Full details of the rulings including the three separate complaints and the implications of these can be found in the briefing note at http://www.tinyurl.ie/3lj

 

 

For further information please contact:

Ian Lumley on 01 7077064

Or Abby McSherry 087 9598767