EPA: Forestry, tourism and transport sectors flouting EU laws

IRELAND’S forestry, tourism and transport sectors are flouting EU laws by failing to fully carry out environmental assessments, a report has claimed.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dossier on Ireland’s environment record criticises the sectors for not incorporating EU Strategic Environmental Assessments, or SEAs, into projects.

The state-of-the-environment report also questions why government plans for roads, transport and building under the National Development Plan were not subject to SEAs. Environmental chiefs say “it is notable that a number of significant sectors, in particular forestry, tourism and transport sectors, have yet to fully engage in the process”.