Number of European environment breach cases on decrease

Environmental infringement procedures taken against Ireland by the European Commission have more than halved over the last three years.

In 2010, 32 infringement proceedings were taken against Ireland. At the end of March this year, 14 cases remained open.

Phil Hogan, the environment minister, said he was determined to reduce the number of infringements even further.

Opening the eighth Environment Ireland Conference in Croke Park, Dublin, Mr Hogan said his department had established a dedicated environmental complaints unit to engage actively with the European Commission in reducing the number of environmental infringements against the State.

The minister said it was due to pro-active case management that the number of infringements against Ireland had reduced by more than 50% since 2009.

He was confident that a further reduction in the number of infringements would be achieved over the coming months.

“Resolution of these infringements often involves the introduction of new legislation, primary or secondary, and I have consistently prioritised such legislative responses to ensure Ireland’s compliance record is maintained and enhanced.”

Laura Burke, director general of the EPA, said Ireland had to show it was “green and clean” — that it complied with international commitments and introduced legislation in timely and appropriate manner.

While the reduction in EU infringement proceedings taken against Ireland was welcome, the State still faced formidable challenges in meeting international obligations in the future.

Ms Burke said the 2008 State of the Environment Report warned that Ireland’s environment was under threat.

“Four years on it is still under threat but the recession has given us a reprieve and assisted us in meeting short-term targets obligations. However, we must assume that the recession-induced reductions mean that environmental pressures are being managed in a sustainable way. We need to learn from the mistakes of the past and ensure we do not repeat them in the future.”