Ireland’s poor record on bogs, waste, water and air quality cited in EU report

Illegal turf cutting, poor bathing waters, high waste generation and damaging agricultural emissions were identified as some of the key challenges for Ireland in an EU environmental report out today.

The European Commission’s Environmental Implementation review assesses how EU countries are implementing environmental legislation. The report found that Ireland was failing to implement EU laws and policies in a range of areas including water treatment and protection of certain bogs, forests and marine areas. The quality of bathing waters remains below average and problems with drinking water remain unresolved in Ireland according to the report.

The high cost of bringing an environmental legal action here (in Ireland) was also highlighted. And it found the increasing generation of waste remains significantly above the EU average. Ammonia emissions from agriculture also “pose a significant problem” according to the report.  

The EU’s Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius today urged EU countries to properly implement the EU’s environmental laws.

Out words: further delay

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