The aim of this consultation is the possible revision of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008, of 29 September 2008, concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters, amending Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 and (EC) No 1627/94 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 3317/94. The main objective of this revision is to strengthen and simplify the existing legal framework, in consistency with [...]

The EU has a clear framework to steer its energy and climate policies up to 2020 and is making good progress towards meeting its climate and energy targets for 2020. But providing clarity on a policy framework for 2030 is also needed, giving more certainty to investors, stimulate innovation and demand for low-carbon technologies and allow the EU to engage actively in the international negotiations for a new climate agreement. The 2030 framework should build [...]

A public consultation process has commenced for a proposed wind farm located offshore from Dalkey. The windfarm will be clearly visible from Howth and Sutton if it goes ahead.  The plans can be inspected in Howth library and more information is also available here: www.dublinarray.com A map showing the proposed locations of the wind turbines is available here: http://www.dublinarray.com/downloads/additional_docs/Site-Layout-Plan-1.pdf

Unfair trading practices in the food and non-food supply chain have a detrimental effect on the whole EU economy as they affect companies’ (especially SMEs’) ability to invest and innovate. This Green Paper makes an initial assessment of the problems posed by unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships along the food and non-food supply chain, including the lack of efficient enforcement of existing national rules and the resulting impact on the Single Market. The objective [...]

The objective of this consultation is to consult stakeholders on the priorities for the development of network codes and guidelines for 2014 and beyond. The European Commission has to establish in accordance with Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009 (“the Electricity Regulation”) and Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No. 715/2009 (“the Gas Regulation”) an annual priority list identifying the areas to be included in the development of network codes.   Website: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/gas_electricity/consultations/20130513_network_codes_en.htm

The purpose of this consultation is to collect the views of citizens and stakeholders on the way forward concerning the review of two Regulations: Commission Regulation (EC) No 875/2007 of 24 July 2007 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to de minimis aid in the fisheries sector and amending Regulation (EC) No 1860/2004 (hereafter “de minimis Regulation”) Commission Regulation (EC) No 736/2008 of 22 July 2008 on the application [...]

There are currently two school schemes in the area of agriculture specifically targeting children in schools: – the European School Milk Scheme (SMS) provides school children with dairy products, while - the more recent School Fruit Scheme (SFS) co-finances the distribution of fruit and vegetable products. In the school year 2010/2011, the schemes have together benefited more than 25 million children across participating Member States, distributing around 43.000 tons of fruit and vegetables and 300.000 tons of [...]

This consultation will help the European Commission: to get an overview of the small-scale driftnet fisheries sector to decide whether and how to review implementation of EU rules for this sector Current EU legal framework on driftnet were laid down in 1998, to prevent overfishing of certain fish species such as tuna and swordfish and reduce the negative impact on marine mammals, sea turtles and other protected species. There are no plans to change the [...]

The consultation was launched by DG AGRI on 15 January and will last until 10 April 2013 and is linked to the planned revision of the framework rules mentioned at the last meetings of WGs II and III. Please note that this consultation includes all field covered by the EU organic farming rules including organic farming and seaweed. The pre-set questions are aimed at citizens in general. Suggestions concerning the future revision, as concerns aquaculture [...]

In April 2013 Coillte Teoranta will carry out a Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) assessment of forest management by Coillte Teoranta – The Irish Forestry Board against the requirements of the FSC Irish Forest Stewardship Standard (FSC-STD-IRL-01-2012, March 2012) (you can view this standard at https://ic.fsc.org/ireland.521.htm). If you have comments about; a) forest management carried out by Coillte Teoranta – The Irish Forestry Board and/or b) the Standard being used Please complete the feedback form [we [...]

Invitation to make Submissions on Ireland’s Partnership Agreement with the European Union for the 2014 – 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds The cohesion policy (or regional policy) of the European Union provides a framework for financing a wide range of projects and investments with the aim of encouraging economic growth in EU Member States and their regions. The policy is reviewed by the EU institutions once every seven years. The next round of programmes [...]

You are invited to submit your views to the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas by 30 April 2013. Purpose of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas Having regard to the commitments on economic development contained in the Programme for Government, in particular, this commission is seeking to identify the best means of encouraging job creation and sustainable enterprise development in rural areas. Our task is to develop a jobs [...]

SAI Global Assurance Services would like to announce that the draft report on the MSC certification assessment of the above fisheries is now available for comment by stakeholders. The scope of the assessment covers the Ireland Bottom Grown Mussel (Mytilus Edulis) Fishery and the linked Northern Ireland Bottom Grown Mussel (Mytilus Edulis) Fishery, caught using harvesting methods such as Modified Dutch Bottom Dredge (with limited hand raking). Stakeholders are invited to comment on the factual [...]

The purpose of this consultation is to collect the views of all relevant stakeholders, at national and EU level, and the public at large on the possible main concepts for the revision of the current EU framework on environmental inspections. It builds on previous consultations and seeks to complement them with stakeholder views on ideas for the design of a new horizontal binding instrument on environmental inspections which the Commission, subject to the conduct of [...]

The objective of this green paper is to consult stakeholders on possible responses to the public policy challenges posed by plastic waste which are at present not specifically addressed in the EU Waste legislation. Website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/plastic_waste_en.htm Responsible agency: European Commission, Directorate General for the Environment, Unit C.2 – Waste Management

The 2015 Agreement will have to bring together, by 2020, the current patchwork of binding and non-binding arrangements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Convention), into a single comprehensive regime. In shaping the 2015 Agreement we will need to learn from the successes and shortcomings of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Copenhagen-Cancun process. The objective of this Consultative Communication is to start a broad discussion with Member States, EU institutions and [...]

Article 8 of the Habitats Directive foresees mechanisms for the co-financing of measures necessary for the maintenance or restoration of favourable conservation status of habitats and species listed in the nature directives. It provides for a “Prioritised Action Framework” (or PAF) to be adopted by the European Commission, having regard to available sources of funding. As part of this process, the Commission requires Member States to produce national Prioritised Action Frameworks. It is intended that [...]

Closing Date: 5.30pm, 1 March 2013 The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government invites comments from interested parties on its consultation paper, “A New Planning and Consent Architecture for Development in the Marine Area”. The paper outlines some of the challenges faced in providing a consent system that balances sustainable growth and development, environmental protection, and the activities of the many sectors that use our marine area. The questions in the paper are [...]

Closing date: 15/03/2013 Objective of the consultation: The European Commission has foreseen a Communication on energy technologies and innovation for the first half of 2013. It intends to give a European energy technology policy perspective in the follow-up to the Energy Roadmap 2050. As part of the preparation of this Communication, the present consultation seeks the opinion from all relevant stakeholders. Its purpose is to consult on possible options for a European energy technologies policy [...]

Submissions and comments are invited on the draft National Radon Control Strategy.The aim of the draft Strategy is to ensure that exposure to radon gas, which presents a significant public health problem, is addressed in an effective and coordinated way across all relevant public authorities through appropriate interventions. The draft Strategy was developed by an inter-agency group comprising representatives from relevant public authorities. For more information including details on how to submit, visit http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/EnvironmentalRadiation/PublicConsultations/ The [...]

11 January 2012: Today the EPA announced a public consulation on the Terms of Reference of a research program on fracking. Submissions are due by 8 March 2013. To see the EPA’s press release, click here (or read the text below). To see the consultation documents, click here. Below is the text of a press release issued by the EPA: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction is an emerging issue in Ireland, in particular with regard [...]

The objective of the consultation is to gather views on the review of the EU’s Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution and on the possible options identified by such review for a comprehensive air pollution policy package that would aim to ensure full implementation of the existing legal framework and make further progress to reduce the negative impacts of air pollution in the longer term. This consultation marks the final stage of a broad consultation on [...]

Stakeholders and experts in the field of the European carbon market are invited to comment on the structural options and views reflected in the report “The state of the European carbon market in 2012″, which serves as the consultation document. There is no additional questionnaire. In order to assist the Commission in its evaluation of your contributions, it would be appreciated if you could maintain the numbering of the options, when commenting on the options [...]

Mr. Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, in the context of the rise in the number of cases of metal theft, has reviewed the waste licensing and permitting legislation, to put in place measures to ensure traceability and to avoid situations that might be exploited by criminal elements.  In this regard, draft amending regulations known as the Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) (Amendment) Regulations (pdf, 29kb) are now being [...]

The European Commission has launched a public call for suggestions to all interested stakeholders and parties for input and suggestions on the key research and investment priorities of the Atlantic coastal areas. Suggestions should be submitted by 15th February 2013 and focused on the five challenges of the Atlantic Strategy: 1. Implementing the ecosystem approach. 2. Reducing Europe’s carbon footprint. 3. Sustainable exploitation of the Atlantic seafloor’s natural resources. 4. Responding to threats and emergencies. [...]

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is commencing its preparations for Ireland’s Rural Development Programme for the period 2014 to 2020. The Programme will be co financed by the European Union and the enabling legislation is currently under discussion at EU level. As part of the preparatory process a stakeholder consultation process is being launched and submissions are invited from interested parties. The European Commission’s policy framework for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) [...]

The objective of the consultation is to provide input to the European Commission for the development of specific actions and measures. It will serve as input to a Communication from the Commission on Rio+20 follow-up, planned for the first half of 2013. The consultation is also a complement to the Public Consultation “Towards a post-2015 development framework”. More information Consultation closes 15 January 2013

This Consultation paper is being published in the context of the Commission Communication on the Internal Energy market. One key message of that Communication is the importance of allowing the market to work and ensuring that any interventions are well designed and effective. The economic crisis and the need to transform our system have increased the importance of questions about how and when investments will be made based on market prices in the academic and [...]

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., has established a committee to review local electoral areas and to report to him not later than 31 May 2013. The review is being undertaken in prospect of the local elections to be held in 2014, having regard to the results of census 2011 and the Action Programme for Effective Local Government published in October 2012. The Action Programme provides that: • [...]

The European Citizen’s House (ECH) is a new project designed to bridge the gap between citizens and EU institutions. The ECH will be a focal point for citizens and European civil society not yet structured in Brussels. The ECH will provide services on-line through its virtual house (www.citizenhouse.eu) and on the spot in the physical house in Brussels. It will outreach to citizens on national level through its contact points in the respective national languages. [...]