Average fine for breaching environment law just €3.5k

The average fine meted out by the courts for breaches of environmental law such as polluting rivers, ignoring the terms of waste licences, and illegally dumping waste, is a mere €10,000.

However, when a small number of standout five- and six-figure fines are discounted, the average fine is closer to €3,500.

This is in strong contrast with the UK, where a water company was fined €230,000 yesterday for discharging raw sewage into the sea last year.