24 November 2021 Opposition to a recently introduced Peat Bill is accumulating and critics stress that it is “totally contrary” to national climate and biodiversity targets. The Bill was launched yesterday by Fine Gael Leader of the Seanad Regina Doherty and Fianna Fail Senator Robbie Gallagher. It would provide a Read more…
July 25th, 2019 The European Commission is taking action against Ireland for a continued failure to ensure that peat extraction is properly assessed for environmental impacts as required under EU law. In its latest package of infringement decisions, the Commission said that it is pursuing Ireland for failing to fully Read more…
July 17th, 2019 A challenge to new peat regulations exempting industrial-scale extraction from the need for planning permission was heard in the courts this week. The case brought by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) was heard at a High Court sitting in Cork on Monday, with Mr Justice Garret Read more…
February 6th, 2019 The Government’s decision to remove large-scale peat extraction from the planning system offers a “’free pass” for peat companies to continue unauthorised extraction across the country, environmentalists have warned. On 25 January, the Minister for Planning Eoghan Murphy TD published new regulations to exempt peat extraction of Read more…
November 22nd, 2018 The High Court has adjourned injunction proceedings brought by the Environmental Protection Agency to halt unlicensed peat extraction at a Co Westmeath bog until at least March 2019. The environmental watchdog was seeking the injunction following the discovery in September 2018 that Harte Peat is extracting wet Read more…
November 14th, 2018 The EPA’s application for an injunction to halt “intensified” wet peat extraction at a Co Westmeath bog does not stand up as the agency was aware of activity since 2009, the High Court heard today. The environmental watchdog is seeking the injunction to prevent Harte Peat from Read more…
November 14th, 2018 An Environmental Protection Agency inspector was “appalled” upon discovering the extraction of wet peat up to five meters deep at an unlicensed Co Westmeath site, the High Court heard yesterday. The environmental watchdog is seeking an interlocutory injunction to prevent Harte Peat from extracting peat from the Read more…
27th, September 2018 An environmental group has called on to the Minister for Agriculture to exercise his powers to tell Teagasc to “refrain” from providing advice on the use of peat for animal bedding. As well as being used for electricity generation, domestic fuel and in horticulture, peat can act Read more…
September 17th, 2018 One of Ireland’s largest peat harvesting companies stands accused of the unlicensed stripping of peat from a bog at a site in Co Westmeath currently subject to court proceedings. According to Friends of the Irish Environment (FiE), Harte Peat has been excavating wet peat at an alarming Read more…
September 14th, 2018 The burning of biomass fuels in Irish homes is leading to “extraordinarily” high levels of air pollution, a new Irish-led study has found. The study led by NUI Galway found Particulate Matter (PM2.5) – smog, smoke and haze particles smaller than 2.5 microns –in excess of World Health Read more…
