Ireland will inevitably face daily fines from the European Court of Justice if cuts are imposed on environmental funding.

The stark warning came from Friends of the Irish Environment, an environmental lobby group that specialises in European environmental law. The group has provided the Commission with a number of dossiers since 1997.

Director Tony Lowes said that ‘Ireland now faces 8 cases in which the original court judgment has not been addressed and the European Commission has notified Ireland that it is returning to Court to seek fines for non-compliance.’

Examples include:

Cuts to major infrastructure projects for urban waste water. Capital investment is required for new and improved infrastructure, its operation, and for its monitoring and enforcement. The judgment was given by the Court in June 2005.

Quality of drinking water issues dating from a 2002 ruling against Ireland. Yet some schemes still have not been upgraded to meet the new water standards, particularly in Galway. Hundreds of schemes still have no chlorine monitors, particularly in Cork.

Backlogs in appeals against designations under the Birds Directive. The failure here has frozen the issue of permits for aquaculture installations for many years, adding an extra burden to that industry as well as jeopardising the environment.

In the area of natural habitats, appropriate levels of funding have not even to date have not been made available to the Department of the Environment. Vacancies unfilled and shortages in technical staff are unaddressed in both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Geological Survey of Ireland.

Ireland is required under recent judgment to put in place an effective and national monitoring programme for flora and fauna both on land and sea. Specialist ecologist staff must be recruited in areas like invertebrates and birds to avoid a return to Court.

The organisation said that it would be a ‘false economy not to meet the requirements of the European Court of Justice and provide the relevant authorities with sufficient funds to avoid fines which can run to many millions of euro.’

Verification and further information: Tony Lowes 027 74771 / 087 2176316

Website: http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org

This Press Release:

http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/friendswork/index.php?do=friendswork&action=view&id=790