The European Commission has issued Ireland with a final warning for failing to comply with European Court of Justice rulings concerning the environment.
Ireland failed to comply with four rulings concerning illegal development, developments that may harm the natural and man-made heritage of the countryside, access to the Irish courts and protection of marine mammals.
One of the final warnings concerns Ireland’s failure to ensure that work on projects that might require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) does not start before the necessary checks or studies are carried out.
In 2008, the Court found that Ireland’s use of a system of retention permission to retrospectively approve such work was contrary to the EIA Directive. No legislation has since been adopted to address the issue.
The Commission warned if the necessary steps were not taken, the cases would be referred back to the Court and fines imposed.
The Commission is also taking actions against Austria, Greece and Spain on environmental grounds.