Environmental group challenges council’s refusal to disclose information on quarry operations

An environmental group has brought a High Court challenge over Meath Co Council’s refusal to disclose information about compliance with financial contribution conditions imposed on a number of quarries as part of their operating permissions.

Eco Advocacy CLG, a non-governmental organisation which champions environmental rights, claims the council wrongly denied it access to the information which it says is critical to determining whether unauthorised development is taking place and if there is a threat of damage to the environment.

Kieran Cummins, executive director of Eco Advocacy, says in an affidavit that requests for the information were made in relation to two Keegan Quarries operations in Duleek and Trammon; three facilities operated by Kilsaran Concrete at Trammon, Rathcore and Kilmessan and one quarry operated by Lagan in Kinnegad.

Requests

Last August, the council refused the requests saying the information was not environmental information as defined by EU access to information on the environment regulations. It also said the information requested was already available to the public to be purchased for a fee.

An internal review of that decision was requested and a senior council official refused the application again on the basis it did not fall within the required definition of environmental information.

Mr Cummins says he has exhausted every avenue to obtain the documents required. As a result an application was brought before the court for judicial review of the decision.

Among the reliefs it seeks are an order quashing the refusal and a declaration the information comes within the access to information regulations. It is also claimed the council erred in law and misinterpreted those regulations.

Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted leave on some of the grounds and adjourned it to June. The application was made on a one-side only represented basis.