Government gaming the numbers by granting sweeping exemptions to hundreds of waterbodies. Handy stroke of the pen for the Minister before Christmas, giving himself less work to do next year protecting rivers. Nice 👏👏👏

A catalogue of water failures. And an indication of the battle we have ahead in 2026 to protect our rivers, lakes and seas from the march of deregulation and a government cleaving ever more to commercial interests. Onwards! 💙🌊✊🩵

98% of sludge from #IrishWater’s sewage plants is spread on land. While we have done a lot of research on impacts on #water quality I found very few researchers working on what it does to #soil and #food. Seems like a bit of an oversight now 👇 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

An interesting poll on public attitudes to water and the derogation: 'Irish people want clean, healthy waters, it’s time the Government actually started protecting that precious resource, instead of giving it lip service while prioritising the demands of the agri-business industry'

A new Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by An Taisce, reveals Irish public appear at odds with Government’s application for a derogation from EU Nitrates Directive. It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th. Full results: www.antaisce.org/news/public-...

This is BIG and we hope the @ec.europa.eu is listening for the next Omnibus packages! ❗Laws cannot be weakened in this way ❗Stop immediately with the watering down of environmental protections through rushed, non-democratic processes #NoToOmnibus ⬇️ friendsoftheearth.eu/press-releas...

EU decision-makers are on a mission to roll back vital nature laws. Our response to that? #HandsOffNature! Environmental laws need no fixing; they need enforcing. Leave them intact. Read more in our 'EU simplification explained' FAQ 👉 wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/eu...

Half of Cork farms inspected by Council failed water quality protection regulations www.independent.ie/regionals/co...

They've had 25 years to get this right, with countless warnings from the EU and with environmental groups hoarse from sounding the alarm. Yet here we are. It really is time for things to change.

Catherine Connolly has been a great supporter of animal welfare and environmental causes that are close to my heart. She said climate change and biodiversity would be one of the three themes of her presidency. Heather Humphreys on the other hand supports hare coursing and fox hunting.

No surprises here but will the rhetoric change? I doubt it. 'Despite all the rhetoric about saving our nitrates derogation and turning the tide on water quality in Ireland, there is still no evidence of the necessary improvement across the board in our waters.' www.antaisce.org/news/decade-...

The shocking list of chemicals and treatments that are allowed to be used in so called 'organic' salmon from fish farms in Ireland highlighted by SWAN Marine & Coastal Policy Officer at the @salmonwatchireland.bsky.social conference.

🚫 Say NO to toxic trade! The EU-Mercosur deal fuels deforestation, deepens climate chaos & hurts small farmers. Stop this corporate power grab! 📩 Email your politician now! www.environmentalpillar.ie/stopeumercos... ✊ #StopEUMercosur

Only 2 days left to tell decision-makers: #HandsOffNature. Join over 150,000 citizens defending EU nature laws! If you are against the weakening of EU nature laws, now is the moment to speak up. Your voice matters. Use it now: birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/adv...

Important - and easy to add your voice!

🧪362,000 l of wastewater 🧪ammonia levels 30 times above the legal limit 🧪orthophosphate levels 2.5 times above limit All on the night of the fish kill. Whether or not there was responsibility for the fish kill, this is shockingly irresponsible. www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Call to Action! EU laws are there to protect nature & by doing so, they protect us, our health and the economy The European Commission wants to weaken these very laws & they're asking you what you think: Tell them to keep their #HandsOffNature by filling in this quick form iwt.ie/what-we-do/c...

Don’t let the EU weaken nature protection ❌ Across Europe, our rivers are dying, wildlife is vanishing & forests are thinning. Now the European Commission wants to weaken the laws that protect them. Tell them to keep their #HandsOffNature 👇 swanireland.ie/take-action/...

This decision by the EU shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that has been paying attention to water quality. What should come as a surprise is that to date the Government has no contingency plan in place for any loss or major revision of the derogation. www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...

Great that @epaireland.bsky.social report shows 10% reduction of nitrogen in rivers nationally in 2024, but most rivers in South & Southeast still had excess nitrogen pollution. So many rivers & estuaries will remain polluted unless stronger measures implemented. www.antaisce.org/news/water-q...

SWAN member, @antaisce.bsky.social, had their Head of Advocacy @elainemcgoff.bsky.social on Primetime last night talking about the pollution crisis in Lady's Island Lake. Watch the full piece here: 👇https://www.rte.ie/player/series/prime-time/SI0000000825?epguid=IH10008770-25-0050

Good to see TDs raising our concerns on the proposed lowering of env. protections on 10% of our waters. @ivanabacik.bsky.social "Rather than trying to address the problems head on, it feels like government are throwing in the towel on our rivers"-Jennifer Whitmore m.independent.ie/regionals/wi...

Since I've no intention of travelling to the US anytime soon, I can share this

The Irish Whale & Dolphin Group have pointed out that they first raised the alarm about unregulated sprat fishing in 2010 but the government has yet to act... now the whales are gone because there nothing for them to eat. Disgraceful! www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

"Hundreds of rivers will be condemned to decline under Government plans to lower environmental standards for them" SWAN has 'grave concerns' that "466 stretches of rivers, lakes & estuaries" to be "classified as 'heavily modified water bodies' www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...

Come work with us - Our rivers need you! 💦 🌊💙

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com Three Yale professors who have written extensively on authoritarianism are leaving the U.S. “We’re like people on the Titanic saying our ship can’t sink,” Marci Shore said. “And what you know as a historian is that there is no such thing as a ship that can’t sink.”

Coronation Plantation located within the Wicklow Mountains NP near the headwaters of the R. Liffey has some of the best Scots Pine & Sessile Oak you'll see in the Wicklow Uplands but it doesnt feature within the Native Woodland survey? Would love to know why & what the implication is for restoration

In 30 years, Ireland's pristine rivers dropped from 500 to just over 20 and, in 50 years, we've lost 90% of our salmon 😢🐟 Baseline Shift means we're less aware of this loss📉 Let's not accept a diminished world🛑 We must #RestoreOurWaters 💙📢 🙏 www.sashafrost.com

Work on the Nature Restoration Plan has begun. The ambition of those involved in making recommendations to government seems to be for something much bigger than just another agri-environment scheme. Listen: 👉 www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

There was a recognition at #IFAAquaculture that good water quality is essential for the industry but no acknowledgement of how fish farming pollutes our seas & affects biodiversity. The govt, BIM & IFA are promoting aquaculture but sustainability must consider water quality too.

You can check the status of your local waterway by going to gis.epa.ie/EPAMaps/ It's a really helpful mapping tool that shows all of the different testing sites nationwide and the colour-coded specific location results

Delighted to attend @NPWSIreland Leaders' Forum to #RestoreNature this week along with a mighty team of SWAN members. Commitment of staff, participants & Chair inspires confidence in a positive process & hope for a strong Nature Restoration Plan. River restoration will be key.

Very odd that the EPA @epaireland.bsky.social is not highlighting the fact that, while down, nitrogen levels still FAR exceed what's deemed healthy water quality in the South and South East

I really don't think this news has made sufficient shock waves. Dr Katherine Calvin, NASA Chief Scientist Trump-Musk just fired, is the highest ranking American on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC. She is co-chair of Working Group 3 on mitigation. This is a climate attack.

“If we accept that war is inevitable, that inequality is inevitable, that environmental destruction is a necessary cost of progress, then we abandon the possibilities of transformation..” President Michael D Higgins What’ll we do without him?

📢𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝗘𝗢!📢 This is a unique opportunity to drive change & grow a movement for a just world where people and nature thrive.✊🌍 Apply now & more details👇 www.friendsoftheearth.ie/jobs/chief-e...

Come on folks, it's time we put on the green jersey for our lovely lakes! 🩵💚💙

The @ec.europa.eu proposal to weaken wolf protections comes at a time when we should be restoring nature. Prioritizing populist politics over science-based, compassionate conservation undermines decades of progress but also fails to provide solutions for rural communities

We have independent, expert councils, paid by the public purse to provide independent assessment and advice - dismissing one seems regrettable - dismissing two seems a policy decision #climate #Ireland #Spéirghorm

Ebb and flow. We will have good and bad days, simply because we are human. Yet, we can choose our mental reaction to what is happening around us. Coming back to our breathing, and slowing down, allows us to find calm in the moment. Speak less, too. We don’t need to reply to everything we hear. 🙏

It's not a demolition site it's a mass grave. It's not a demolition site it's a crime scene. It's not a demolition site its a homeland. It's not a demolition site it's Palestine. It's not a demolition site it's a genocide.

Worrying. Rightwing MEPs threaten huge funding freeze for environmental NGOs www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...