Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
An Taisce - The National Trust For Ireland
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Membership Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • FAQs
    • Who We Are
      • Key Staff
      • Board
      • Council
      • Committees
    • Local Associations
    • Our History
  • Our Work
    • Advocacy
    • Education
    • Legacy4Life
    • Properties
    • Submissions
  • News and Events
    • Latest News and Press Releases
    • Blog
    • Events
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Membership
      • Benefits of Membership
      • Become a Member
    • Legacies
    • Green Buildings
    • Other Ways to Give
    • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Pages
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Clean Air Strategy for Ireland

    Clean Air Strategy for Ireland

    An Taisce's submission on the draft Clean Air Strategy for Ireland. Read more

  • River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027

    River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027

    An Taisce submission on the draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022 - 2027. Read more

  • Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029

    Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029

    An Taisce's submission on the draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. Read more

  • Carbon Budget Submission 2022

    Carbon Budget Submission 2022

    An Taisce submission to the Public Consultation on Carbon Budgets. Read more

  • Clean Air Strategy for Ireland
  • River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027
  • Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
  • Carbon Budget Submission 2022
  • Next
  • Prev
  1. Our Work
  2. Submissions

Submissions

The following catalogues An Taisce's submissions on policy consultations. Our submissions on planning applications and appeals are available to view on the relevant Local Authority planning website.

Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028

Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028

An Taisce's submission to proposed material alterations to the Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028. Read more

Published: 16th June, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Clean Air Strategy for Ireland

Clean Air Strategy for Ireland

An Taisce's submission on the draft Clean Air Strategy for Ireland. Read more

Published: 16th May, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027

River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027

An Taisce submission on the draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022 - 2027. Read more

Published: 7th April, 2022

Updated: 16th May, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029

Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029

An Taisce's submission on the draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. Read more

Published: 28th March, 2022

Updated: 27th June, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Carbon Budget Submission 2022

Carbon Budget Submission 2022

An Taisce submission to the Public Consultation on Carbon Budgets. Read more

Published: 8th February, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill

Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill

An Taisce's submission on the Monuments and Heritage Bill to the Press Release - Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. Read more

Published: 3rd February, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Housing and Planning and Development Bill

Housing and Planning and Development Bill

An Taisce's 2022 submission on the Housing and Planning and Development Bill to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Read more

Published: 2nd February, 2022

Updated: 22nd March, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Ireland's Fifth Nitrates Action Programme 2022 - 2025

Ireland's Fifth Nitrates Action Programme 2022 - 2025

Ireland has chance to reverse our worsening water quality in the next Nitrates Action Programme. Learn what needs to change to protect our water. Read more

Published: 27th January, 2022

Updated: 28th March, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

All Ireland Strategic Rail Review

All Ireland Strategic Rail Review

An Taisce and Cyclist.ie's submission to the All Ireland Strategic Rail Review. Transport is a key area of Ireland's new Climate Action Plan. Read more

Published: 24th January, 2022

Updated: 14th April, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Fourth Review of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme

Fourth Review of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme

An Taisce highlights the worsening water quality crisis and need for substantial changes in the management of nitrogen inputs to agricultural land to comply with the Nitrates and Water Framework Directives. Read more

Published: 2nd December, 2021

Updated: 24th January, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Dublin Region Air Quality Plan

Dublin Region Air Quality Plan

An Taisce's submission to the Public Consultation on the Draft Dublin Region Air Quality Plan. Read more

Published: 11th November, 2021

Updated: 16th May, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Submission on Shannon LNG

Submission on Shannon LNG

An Taisce's submission to An Bord Pleanála on Shannon LNG Limited's planning application for liquified natural gas power plant in Co. Kerry. Read more

Published: 26th October, 2021

Updated: 3rd November, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Wicklow County Development Plan 2021-2027

Wicklow County Development Plan 2021-2027

An Taisce's submission on the draft Wicklow County Development Plan 2021-2027. Read more

Published: 30th August, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028

Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028

An Taisce's submission on the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028. Read more

Published: 30th July, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network

Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network

An Taisce Response to the MPA Expert Advisory Group Report “Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network”. Read more

Published: 29th July, 2021

Updated: 16th May, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021

Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021

An Taisce's submission to the consultation on the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021. Read more

Published: 22nd July, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Policies Connecting Data Centres to National Grid

Policies Connecting Data Centres to National Grid

An Taisce's submission to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection. Read more

Published: 7th July, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Roscommon County Development Plan 2021-2027

Roscommon County Development Plan 2021-2027

An Taisce's submission on the draft Roscommon County Development Plan 2021-2027. Read more

Published: 2nd July, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028

Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028

An Taisce's submission on the draft Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028. Read more

Published: 1st July, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

National Peatlands Strategy 2015-2025

National Peatlands Strategy 2015-2025

An Taisce's submission on Public Consultation on National Peatlands Strategy 2015-2025 - Midterm Review. Read more

Published: 30th June, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Submission on the Draft Agri-Food 2030 Strategy and Environmental Assessments

Submission on the Draft Agri-Food 2030 Strategy and Environmental Assessments

An Taisce have serious questions over the flawed Agri-Food Strategy to 2030 as well as over the robustness of the accompanying environmental assessments and their compliance with EU law. Read more

Published: 15th June, 2021

Author: Phoebe Duvall

Fingal County Development Plan 2023-2029

Fingal County Development Plan 2023-2029

An Taisce Submission to the Pre-Draft Consultation on the Fingal County Development Plan 2023-2029 Read more

Published: 12th May, 2021

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Opening Statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Opening Statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An Taisce was asked to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 4th May 2021 as part of the Committee's discussions on the Climate Action Plan. Read more

Published: 5th May, 2021

Author: Phoebe Duvall

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2022-2028

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2022-2028

An Taisce's submission to the review of the Draft Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2022-2028. Read more

Published: 15th April, 2021

Updated: 16th May, 2022

Author: Dearbhla Ryan

Load more Back to top

Showing 10 of 154

Latest

  • Statement from An Taisce re legal action in respect of Nitrates Action Programme

    Statement from An Taisce re legal action in respect of Nitrates Action Programme

  • Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028

    Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028

    An Taisce's submission to proposed material alterations to the Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028.

  • Take Action on Vacancy

    Take Action on Vacancy

    Concerned about a vacant or deteriorating old building in your area? Read An Taisce member, and heritage and planning buff, Kevin Duff's blog on how you can contact your Planning Enforcement Department.

  • You Are What You Eat: Is There Life After Steaks?

    You Are What You Eat: Is There Life After Steaks?

    In his latest blog, An Taisce member Eric Conroy reflects on trying to reduce meat and dairy in his diet.

Most read

  • Vacancies

    Vacancies

    There are currently no vacancies.

  • We Protect

    We Protect

    We hold and preserve a range of heritage properties in trust, including historic buildings and nature reserves.

  • Compost for Nature

    Compost for Nature

    Our Compost for Nature guide is now available! For years, the garden and landscape industry has been selling us peat moss as “compost.” In reality, this is peat-moss that is nutrient-poor and bad for our peatlands. The good news is that there is another more sustainable way to nurture soil health AND reduce waste - composting!

  • Our Mission

    Our Mission

    Overview of An Taisce's mission, vision and work

  • We Educate

    We Educate

    We develop and run Ireland's most popular and successful environmental and sustainability programmes.

  • Key Staff and Volunteers

    List of the key employees and volunteers in all An Taisce sections with their contact details

  • An Taisce action on Kilkenny cheese factory planning decision

    An Taisce action on Kilkenny cheese factory planning decision

    An Taisce has sought leave to appeal the recent decision of the High Court dismissing its challenge against the decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the development of a cheese processing plant. We've written this explainer on why we've taken the appeal, the planning case behind it, An Taisce's role in the planning process, the wider environmental context on dairy expansion in Ireland, and our view for future development.

  • We Advocate

    We Advocate

    We are a leading voice for all aspects of environmental conservation and sustainable development in Ireland as essential to the wellbeing and resilience of both people and planet

  • Benefits of Membership

    Benefits of Membership

    Help us to preserve Ireland's rich heritage, protect our beautiful nature, and slow climate change. Become a member of An Taisce and receive these benefits.

  • Our Board of Directors

    Names and positions of An Taisce's Board of Directors

Tag cloud

agriculture Air quality Biodiversity Buildings at Risk built heritage Climate Energy Heritage heritage at risk Peatlands Planning Press Release Submission summary Threats to Nature Conservation Transport Water
This is our head office address and a map of where to find us.
Application by ESB for change of use from museum to residential at Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2

Application by ESB for change of use from museum to residential at Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2

This proposal by the ESB to close the Georgian House museum at Fitzwilliam Street would represent the loss of a thirty-year-old heritage and cultural visitor attraction and educational resource for the city Read more

Published: 7th February, 2021

Updated: 8th February, 2021

Author: Kevin Duff

Location: 19, Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin

Latest tweet

Sign up for our mailing list

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Following an extended period of review, An Taisce last month (May 2022) made  an application to the High Court to seek a judicial review of the fifth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) announced by the Government in March of this year. 

The application is rooted in the undisputed evidence of continuing deterioration of water quality in Ireland, where all the indicators are negative and continuing in a downward direction. These figures are damning proof that previous NAPs have failed to meet their purpose which is to enable Ireland to fulfill the objectives of the Nitrates Directive.

In that context, we could not responsibly stand by and do nothing. Our decision reflects the core remit of An Taisce to advocate for choices by, and in, Ireland that provide for a more environmentally sustainable future for the country as a whole. The NAP as proposed simply does not provide the level of protection that is needed for water quality in Ireland. 

The Nitrates Directive – which first came into force in 1991 – is the central legislative framework, emanating from Europe, that protects our rivers and lakes from the impacts of agricultural pollution. It requires member States to devise and implement a Nitrates Action Programme setting out specifically how water quality will be protected from agricultural impact for the next four years. 

The NAP provides a basis for binding regulations over agricultural practice - known as the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) regulations. The effectiveness and implementation of these measures and regulations is critical given that intensive land use is the principal cause of the pollution of Irish waterways. To date, this approach has not worked, with agriculture negatively impacting on more than half (53%) of Irish waterbodies1.

 In the period leading into the March declaration of the NAP: 

  • An Taisce repeatedly challenged the new measures being put forward by Government in draft documents. Those proposed actions were based on a paucity of evidence that they would be any more effective than previous Nitrates Action Programmes, which the Government themselves admitted had failed. 
  • We also flagged up the legal weaknesses in the environmental assessments for the NAP. 
  • We repeatedly highlighted the scientific evidence which clearly makes the case for more ambitious and far-reaching measures, and far more rigorous assessment. 

To address those shortcomings An Taisce made a number of recommendations in the consultation process for this NAP. In particular we advocated for a NAP that provides for catchment and site-specific measures and assessment, rather than a programme of general one-size-fits-all measures without accountability.

These concerns were not addressed at all. Regrettably, instead of putting in place something that could help halt and reverse water pollution, the government has chosen to sideline the science and the law in framing a weak and inadequate NAP.  

Accordingly, and based on the evidence of an inevitable further deterioration in water quality – which has to be the ultimate measure of what is right here - An Taisce has no option but to challenge this approach. 

This legal step may be misrepresented as some form of attack on the farming community. This application is not against  people or communities. On the contrary, it is born of a longstanding commitment to ensure that the essential ingredients for flourishing rural life and agriculture - i.e. clean water and uncontaminated soil - are preserved for future generations. It is targeting misguided  legal and regulatory structures  that are actively contributing to water pollution and which thus must be challenged.

We cannot ignore the evidence of harm to our water courses by farming activity which has a direct impact on every citizen, and on Ireland’s standing as an environmentally aware and responsible society. 

An Taisce supports sustainable farming and we accept that farmers want to work in sync with the environment. That can only be achieved by working with the evidence and guidance of science, and not against it. 

—----------------------------ENDS—----------------------------

Contact us

Head Office
Tailors' Hall
Back Lane
Dublin
D08 X2A3
Ireland

+353 1 454 1786
[email protected]

Links

  • Donate
  • Membership
  • Governance
  • Our Funders
  • Vacancies
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Sitemap

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

© 2020 An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland 
Registered in Ireland 12469 - Charity No. CHY4741 - Charity Regulator No. 20006358 - EU Transparency Register No. 473905437651-60

Manage Cookie Preferences