Leadership

Commission warns Ireland over environmental rulings

18.03.2010
The European Commission has issued a warning to Ireland over four cases where it failed to comply with European Court of Justice rulings on the environment.

Brussels said Ireland failed to comply with four court rulings concerning illegal development and developments that may harm the natural and man-made heritage of the countryside, access to the Irish courts and protection of marine mammals.

The Commission said if the necessary steps are not taken it could refer the cases back to the court and ask for fines to be imposed.

The Commission said that in one case Ireland had failed to ensure that work on projects that might require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) does not start before the necessary checks or studies are carried out. The Court found that Ireland's use of a system of retention permission to retrospectively approve such work was contrary to the EIA Directive.

The Court also found that there had been a failure to undertake a proper EIA assessment of a wind farm at Derrybrien, Co Galway, which caused a major peat slide.

“No legislation has been adopted to address the issue of retrospective permission identified in the judgment. In the Derrybrien case, the Irish authorities agreed to undertake an EIA to look in detail at further potential issues, however, to date none has been made due to delays in proposed new legislation,” the Commission said.

Two long-running cases shelved
In related news, following action by the Irish authorities the Commission said today it is closing two long-standing cases on drinking water supplies and shell-fish growing areas, shelving earlier proposed fines for the latter.

“I am pleased to see that Ireland has taken the necessary measures to enable the Commission to close two long-running cases. I would now urge the Irish authorities to renew their efforts to satisfy other important court rulings,” said EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik (pictured).