EU Law

IN THIS NEW SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE

we hope to provide the basic tools to understand European law and its impact on the Irish environment. Please note that we do not provide legal advice and nothing on this site should be used as a substitute for advice from qualified professionals.

Friends of the Irish Environment, in accordance with EU Law requiring that the member states must take all steps necessary to ensure a high level of environmental protection, are providing a list of the legal cases taken by the European Commission against Ireland. Each case is linked to the Advocate General’s Opinion and to the final judgment. We are adding commentaries and Commission Press Releases about cases against Ireland. There is no appeal against European Court judgments against a member state and they are binding on Irish national law.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE - THE AARHUS CONVENTION

Ireland is the only EU Country not to have ratified the The Aarhus convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. The world’s most far-reaching treaty on environmental rights seeks to promote greater transparency and accountability among government bodies by guaranteeing public rights of access to environmental information and providing for public involvement in environmental decision-making requiring the establishment of procedures enabling the public to challenge environmental decisions.

It creates a means by which citizens from across the entire region can enforce their rights to protect and enhance the environment. IRELAND MUST RATIFY THIS CONVENTION. Implementation of the EU Directive on Access to Justice based on this convention has been further delayed in Ireland by the Government decision of 2 October 2007 which divided consents systems formerly with the Department of Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment.

CLICK HERE FOR THE KEY ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTIVES

Further links that may be of use are: