'A bit late and a bit rich': Irish MEPs criticised for environment law stance

More than 80% of protected habitats across the EU are in a bad state, according to the European Environment Agency, with a combined area about half the size of Spain in need of restoration.

The softening of the stance taken by some Irish MEPs to the European Commission's landmark nature restoration proposal is "a bit late and a bit rich", a leading environmental campaigner has said.

The European People’s Party (EPP), which represents about 177 of 705 MEPs, including Fine Gael, left negotiations last week on the Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s damaged land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems by 2050.