During Ireland's Presidency of the EU, the Govt will be leading member states’ work on a Circular Economy Act to reduce & prevent waste. But 2 in 3 people don’t think the Govt is doing enough on waste at home to show leadership on the issue at EU level. Full poll results here: bit.ly/EP050626

Ireland Thinks asked people how big a difference EU policy can make to issues. Environmental issues came out strongly with 68% saying it makes quite a difference or very big difference to protecting nature & water quality, 61% saying the same for reducing climate & air pollution bit.ly/EP050626

More than three quarters of people say the introduction of a new EU-wide windfall tax on the excess profits of energy companies should be a priority for Ireland’s EU Presidency. 7 in 10 people say reducing our dependence on fossil fuel energy should be a priority. Full poll results: bit.ly/EP050626

To mark World Environment Day, we asked Ireland Thinks to measure public opinion on the EU’s role in environmental protection. 8 in 10 Irish people think the Govt should use its upcoming Presidency of the EU to strengthen or uphold EU environmental protections. Only 1 in 8 people want them weakened.

Public want the Government to use Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the EU to uphold or strengthen environmental protection, reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels & tax the extra profits oil companies are making because of the US-Israeli assault on Iran www.environmentalpillar.ie/public-want-...

The political will to properly regulate this damaging sector clearly doesn’t exist within Ireland, so we are very grateful to the European Commission for stepping in - Ireland referred to Court on peat cutting www.environmentalpillar.ie/environmenta... (Photo: Irish Peatland Conservation Council)

Share your views on Ireland’s draft National Nature Restoration Plan. Your feedback will help shape the next version of the plan. The closing date for submissions is Tuesday, 30 June 2026. www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

The European Commission is proposing to weaken pesticide rules. Weaker pesticide regulations put our future at risk. Instead, we need real protection of health, water & environment. This is your chance to speak up. Write your message to decision-makers www.environmentalpillar.ie/for-health-b...

New Government rules imposing an as–yet undisclosed cap on recoverable legal costs in successful environmental judicial reviews will be catastrophic for environmental and climate protection www.environmentalpillar.ie/new-rules-on...

New rules by the Government to impose an as–yet undisclosed cap on the legal costs that applicants who win their judicial reviews relating to the environment can recover is very concerning and represents a really serious blow to public accountability and the quality of environmental decision-making.

Great to be at the launch of the Independent Advisory Committee report on nature restoration. And many thanks to our colleague @fintankelly.bsky.social for his contribution to the report. Investing money now in nature will save multiples in the future and benefit all

Today’s launch of the IAC recommendations underlines that nature restoration is a common cause uniting all of Irish society, writes @fintankelly.bsky.social. The government must now match the leadership shown by farmers, fishers, NGOs, and communities nationwide. greennews.ie/united-for-n...

Nature restoration is a common cause uniting all of Irish society. Environmental Pillar welcomes IAC recommendations and urges Government to fund the plan www.environmentalpillar.ie/nature-resto...

Simplification of EU environmental regulations will harm society and the environment - Environmental Pillar tells European Commission Director General Eric Mamer that strong regulation & better implementation is needed to deal with climate & nature crises www.environmentalpillar.ie/simplificati...

An Ireland Thinks poll has found 56% of Irish people think the “Government is not doing enough fast enough to cut Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels”, compared with just 21% who think the Government is doing “too much, too fast” www.environmentalpillar.ie/majority-of-...

400,000 voices and counting, and growing louder every day! Sign the petition and help us say #HandsOffNature. Polluters are pushing to weaken the laws that protect our air, water, and wildlife behind closed doors. Speak up📝 Sign the petition: handsoffnature.eu Photo: Barry Z Levine

The European Commission is proposing to weaken pesticide rules. Weaker pesticide regulations put our future at risk. Instead, we need real protection of health, water & environment. This is your chance to speak up. Write your message to decision-makers here www.environmentalpillar.ie/for-health-b...

Those advocating for the scrapping of the carbon tax haven’t considered the impacts it will have on households across the country who are accessing funding to upgrade their homes to make them warmer and more energy efficient, as well as farmers who rely on Agri-Climate Rural Environment Schemes

Calls to scrap or suspend the carbon tax are misguided. It would hit farmers on the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme & homeowners upgrading their houses through SEAI-funded schemes as well as damaging efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions www.environmentalpillar.ie/suspending-o...

We’re looking for a Membership & Network Officer to join our team! If you’re passionate about building strong professional relationships, growing communities, and creating meaningful member engagement, this role is for you. www.ien.ie/about/vacanc...

The EnvPillar has joined with 170 civil society organisations in Europe and Latin America in singing an open letter to the Council and Commission against provisional application of the EU-Mercosur agreement europeantradejustice.org/eu-mercosur-...

Just one day to go to apply for CORE (Cross-border Opportunities for a Resilient Environment) Project Officer! ⏰CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Wednesday 25 February 5pm 📪APPLICATION AND ENQUIRIES: CV and a covering letter to [email protected]

Great article in the @independent.ie where @irishenvnet.bsky.social senior land use officer @fintankelly.bsky.social outlines three key ingredients to boost nature restoration in Ireland

UN expert says Ireland has made important progress in protecting the environment, but these advances are at risk unless strategic projects, infrastructure and activities are rigorously assessed and legally compliant. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

“The cunning disguise this time is soothing words such as simplification and competitiveness.” @ciaranbrennan.bsky.social of @envpillar.bsky.social writes on the dangerous undoing of environmental (and human rights) laws at national and EU level.

Across the world, right-wing political forces are working to dismantle decades of environmental and social progress, but rolling back environmental regulation is the ultimate act of self-harm. Oped by @ciaranbrennan.bsky.social in @irishexaminer.bsky.social www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

The European laws that have been safeguarding our nature are being quietly dismantled – under the false promise of “simplification”. Our nature is under attack, and we are here to defend it. But we need your help! Sign the petition to say #HandsOFFNature www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

27 EU leaders. In a castle. Deciding which protections to cut for polluter profit 😡 180,000+ people already said: #HandsOffNature ✊ Join us in telling EU leaders that we will not sacrifice our future for corporate profits 👉 www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

27 EU leaders. In a castle. Deciding which protections to cut for polluter profit tomorrow. 175,000+ people already said: Hands off our water, our air, our nature. 👉 handsoffnature.eu#take-action #HandsOffNature

We’ve written to Irish MEPs urging them to vote against ratification of EU–Mercosur The deal threatens small farms, public health & climate/biodiversity by prioritising multinationals over communities & future generations We believe in enhanced cooperation with South America but not at any cost

An Taisce stands with fellow members of Environmental Pillar and eNGOs across the EU to say Hands Off Nature. Have your voice heard. Let’s defend the laws that protect our future #HandsOFFNature Send a message and sign petition: www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na... @envpillar.bsky.social

Under the Trojan Horse of simplification & cutting red tape, key EU laws that protect clean air, safe water, public health & nature are being weakened. Use our webtool to remind EU leaders to keep their Hands Off Nature. www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

Europe - Don’t turn your back on nature! The EU's ongoing “simplification” drive risks setting back nature protection by decades and fails to safeguard us from the climate crisis.  Take Action. Give nature a voice. Sign the petition to say #HandsOFFNature www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

The Nature Restoration Plan, which is currently being developed, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure a bright future for nature & farming alike, but it can only deliver if politicians & farming leaders are honest with farmers and work in their best interests greennews.ie/in-ireland-t...

Faced with triple crises of climate breakdown, biodiversity loss & pollution, we need to ensure environmental laws remain strong When nature loses, we all lose Please add your voice - let EU decision-makers understand need to respect scientific evidence and to keep environmental safeguards intact

The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the safety of our homes all depend on strong environmental laws. Behind the EU’s ‘simplification’ agenda, crucial environmental safeguards are being quietly dismantled. Take Action: www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

SWAN joined members of @envpillar.bsky.social yesterday on a tour of a derogation farm and talked to Minister Heydon and his team about the need for farmers like these not to have to live with uncertainty, facing another cliff edge on derogation, and instead to provide an off-ramp with supports.

A proposed new fees scale aimed at slashing legal costs payable by public bodies in environmental law cases is contrary to European Union law and would harm environmental protection, the Law Society of Ireland has said www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

1400 submissions on the JR costs cap & the majority appear to be questioning the legal validity of this. But instead of, you know, actually listening to the public, instead the Gov is said to be 'bracing for a legal challenge'. How about they just don't do it?! www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co...

The last 11 years have been the warmest on record globally and Copernicus scientists say they fully expect 2026 to make it 12 out of 12, with the pattern to continue.

Ireland set for more extreme weather as climate data points to worsening trends www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

The Environmental Pillar has long argued that the Mercosur deal lacks sufficient safeguards to protect Irish family farms and consumers from food produced to lower health standards using inputs banned in the EU.

It's just over 3 weeks since Ireland was found in breach by the ECJ for failing to protect waterbodies from physical damage. The government response? Lower the legal bar for these waterbodies, so the damage can continue, with insufficient justification. Our waterways are not in safe hands.

⚠️In a final vote, the European Parliament sealed the fate of the few remaining environmental safeguards from EU farm policy, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) putting EU farming at risk⚠️

Do you care about biodiversity & clean water? Beware! The European Commission is currently proposing a series of measures to massively deregulate pesticides. Ask your EU Commissioner to block these changes by logging on to www.environmentalpillar.ie/end-the-toxic-pesticide-era/

The EU Mercosur Trade Agreement will benefit a handful of big corporations while driving deforestation, the climate crisis & exposing small-scale farmers to unfair competition. Join our call & say no to this toxic trade deal. Email your ministers & MEPs now www.environmentalpillar.ie/stopeumercos...

BREAKING: Ireland's nitrates derogation has been renewed.🗳️ This has no scientific basis & fails nature, the public, & farmers. “The evidence simply did not exist to justify renewing Ireland’s nitrates derogation" "Meanwhile, our precious water and wildlife suffer.” swanireland.ie/2025/12/rene...

It looks likely that Ireland will indeed get another derogation. This is being widely hailed as a good outcome by our Government, but good for who? Most Irish people want clean water, not a nitrates derogation. Excellent analysis by @elainemcgoff.bsky.social

🚨 Toxic pesticides are poisoning our soils, water & biodiversity. The EU wants to weaken rules — we need to push back. Call for a rapid shift to nature-friendly, pesticide-free farming. #EndTheToxicPesticideEra 🐝🦋 Take Action Now 👉 www.environmentalpillar.ie/end-the-toxi...

A profound and deeply worrying shift on access to justice. Hard-hitting analysis by @attractaub.bsky.social of the Government’s plans to limit legal challenges in the planning process www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...