Ireland is overhauling its water abstraction laws to better protect water resources and align with the EU Water Framework Directive. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced updated guidelines, replacing the outdated Water Resources Act 1997, to ensure sustainable water use and prevent ecological harm....
1. The Planning Authority’s Duty to Consider Ecology Even if a pNHA isn’t legally binding, planning laws in most EU countries (and beyond) require authorities to assess a project’s impact on biodiversity. For example, the EU Habitats Directive, While focused on Natura 2000 sites, it sets...
Europe’s protected landscapes—whether called Natura 2000 sites, National Parks, or Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs)—are vital for safeguarding biodiversity. But in many countries, including Ireland, a curious pattern exists: hundreds of proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs) are listed, while only a small fraction gain full NHA...
Europe’s landscapes—from dense forests to coastal wetlands—are home to thousands of species, many found nowhere else on Earth. But as human activity encroaches on these habitats, how do we balance progress with preservation? Enter the Habitats Directive, a landmark EU law passed in 1992 to...
The licencing for plantations of trees in Ireland is controlled by the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (hereinafter DAFM). An individual or group wishing to be approved for a forestry licence must engage the following process:The individual or company wishing to plant must...
The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment) was established to lessen pollution levels in water bodies within the European Union. It sets out a standard which all waste water must achieve before it can be...
In 2012, the European Commission unveiled a new policy initiative called the ‘Blue Growth Strategy’ which aims to increase dependency on marine resources in order to develop sustainable economies. The Commission set out its ambition for the European Union (EU) to invest in the potential...
The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 came into force on the 23rd of December 2016. It introduced the concepts of Strategic Housing Developments and extending the lifetime of planning permissions for certain residential development for a second time. It is expected that...
BrexitOn March 29th last British Prime Minister Theresa May formally began the UK’s divorce from the EU, triggering ‘Brexit’.The decision by the UK to leave the EU has created a situation which, if not handled with the upmost care by the Irish authorities, could worsen Irelannd’s...
HistoryThe Fishing Penalty Points System was introduced in Ireland in 2014 by means of a Statutory Instrument to implement the EU Points system into Irish Law. The EU Fisheries Control Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation...