Government faces €4m fine for failing to implement EU directives

The European Commission is seeking to levy a once-off fine of €4m against the Government for its failure to ensure that proper environmental assessments are being carried out on Irish farming and fish farming projects.

It could be the first fine against the Irish Government ever despite its poor record on implementing environmental legislation.

The commission also threatens to impose daily fines of €33,000, but the Department of Agriculture and Environment believe the imposition of these fines now looks unlikely due to last minute work done by the departments to ensure compliance with the directive.