Catherine Conlon: We are choosing business over nature every single time

Fish kills, polluted drinking water, declining wildlife populations, and increased emissions are a direct result of politicians’ policy decisions

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon at the National Ploughing Championships last month: He said the nitrates derogation was a top priority for Ireland. Picture Dan Linehan

The State of Europe’s Environment report compiled every five years by the European Environment Agency (EEA) confirms what we already know — Nature in Ireland is in a “very poor” state, with the country’s economic growth achieved at the expense of the environment.

The report makes for sobering reading. The majority (85%) of Ireland’s protected habitats and almost a third of protected species of flora and fauna have an unfavourable status. Over half of native plant species are in decline and more than 50 bird species are of high conservation concern.