An Taisce

The National Trust for IrelandAn Taisce NewsletterVolume 6 Issue 3 March 2014

INDEX OF EZINES SINCE JAN 2012

Full articles

Welcome to An Taisce's March 2014 ezinePlease share widely! We have improved printing from Netscape or Internet Explorer Browsers but it is over 80

pages long - so please print it double sided or 2 pages per sheet.

We have also provided a magnify facility for some images - if a + symbol appears when you roll over an image -

click on it and it will magnify.

Report from the Wexford Local AssociationThe Wexford LA held a very enjoyable dinner on 7th March that was addressed by Mark Clinton and whose

subject was "Ring Forts and the Quaker Connection". This specifically referred to the Corlican Ring Fort that has

been used as a Quaker graveyard and which the LA is taking in charge. Two members of the Society of Friends

were in attendance. Mark's extremely well researched talk was fascinating and revealing and leaves the way open

for further reasearch into this unique site which may well have also served as a small redoubt for Cromwell in his

march on New Ross and as a graveyard for a number of his soldiers.

The AGM was held a few days later and resulted in our electing Patricia Byrne as the new Chair. Patricia is well

known locally for work in the Field Club and other flora oriented activities. The Treasurer's resume showed a

balance in hand of some €480.

We look forward to some more informative and socially enjoyable outings this coming year.

Planning matters this year have been very slack as very few Planning Applications were validated in Wexford in

2013/14 and the decision to transfer the majority of referrals to Head Office is partly to conform to the new

Electronic notification system and to keep HO informed on the most urgent planning issues.

Tim Ryan outgoing Chair.

Gate to the

Corlican graveyard

Quaker

gravestones

Report from the Dun Laoghaire AssociationWe celebrated National Tree Week at Booterstown Park on March 7 . We were ably

assisted by the third class from Our Lady’s School. Mairead Meighan and Rebecca

Meighan welcomed the class. Councillor Victor Boyhan gave horticultural advice to the

diggers advising that they would enjoy the beech tree in years to come. Afterwards Alison

Carter brought them bird watching to the Williamstown Creek where they were delighted by the close proximity of

several teal, green shank and godwit.

March 9 was a beautiful spring day at Booterstown. Our first walk kicked off with leader Katherine Duff, our

youngest follower was just 8 years old. We viewed the Williamstown Creek and sluice gate which facilitates the

flow of water both into and out of the nature reserve.

Crossing the railway bridge we walked along the intertidal area of the beach looking at different seaweeds,

molluscs, crabs and the ubiquitous litter and embankment graffiti. When we crossed the Trimleston stream outflow

we realised that the embryonic dune system had been greatly reduced due to the December and January storms.

The dunes had been flattened and a great amount of sea shells had been deposited there.

We traced our way along the shore returning to Booterstown Nature Reserve to start the botanical walk led by

Sara Rublacava. Being the only saltmarsh in south Dublin the reserve is a special and unique place for a wide

variety of diverse plants in particular the EU protected annual grass Puccinellia fasciculate.

As it is tidal the marsh is alternatively full and relatively empty of water. In this brackish water the plants must

endure not only salty conditions but constant wetting and drying which makes survival difficult in this harsh

environment. We looked at the Nutley stream which is the main source of fresh water to the marsh where birds

come to drink.

It was this steam which suffered an oil leak last October from an oil release from a road culvert back. Prompt

action by the Dun Laoghaire Association and Dublin County Council prevented serious damage to the marsh and

its wildlife.

Our final walk on birds was with Sean Hogan from the Bootestown reserve committee. He both informed and

entertained us with his great knowledge of the identification and habits of land, sea and marsh birds.

Unfortunately no light bellied Brent geese were present but sizeable numbers of godwit, sanderling, teal, knot and

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greenshanks were and one little egret. All could be seen busily foraging in the rich mud for small crustaceans and

worms.

Land birds sang from the trees even their song could be identified by Sean who told us about

the great migrations of birds, their eating habits, selection of mates and the seasonal

changes of birds’ genitalia!

So if you want to know more come to our next bird walk on Heritage Sunday August 24 or in May for National

Biodiversity Week. Our thanks to those led our walks which were funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County

Council and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government through the Local Agenda 21

Environmental Partnership Fund

Booterstown Spring Clean will take place on April 27 at 2pm. Meet at Booterstown DART carpark. This year we

will be joined by the Irish Wildlife Trust Dublin Branch and students from the Dublin Institute of Technology. This

year our event is part of International OCEAN Initiatives 2014 raising awareness of the problems of waterways

litter. All welcome, tea afterwards. Info: R Jeffares 087 9537959

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Report from the Clare AssociationOur Annual General Meeting of the Clare Association of An Taisceis at the Temple Gate Hotel on Tuesday 8 April starting at 8pm

On the Agenda

The Burren On considering our Burren land and the funding we have requested, we realised that we

have, in fact, complied to most of objectives of the Management Plan and so now we need to rethink the

objectives. We also need to consider revising or extending our Burren Management Committee as, starting

from September, we will need more hands-on involvement. We are to discuss both the objectives and the

membership of our Burren Management Committee and changing it name to Clare Properties

Management Committee.

Public Participation in new local authorities At our meeting, last October, we informed you of the

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government’s plan to reorganise the County and local authorities. The ten authorities chosen as test cases

proved that the system did not work. The Department of the Environment now proposes a new system and

this will be fully discussed at our AGM.

We are also considering changing the Association's Standing Order to allow for us to let members know of

meetings by email.

Meath Association Monthly Report

The Meath Association AGM will take place on Tuesday 29 April at 7:30 pm in Slane

Castle. Alex Mountcharles will give a talk on the ‘Proposed Distillery at Slane’. Members

will receive notification in the coming weeks, along with Copy of Social Calendar

organised by Christopher Gray. This is Christopher’s last season unfortunately; he will be sorely missed for his

intriguing events and expertise. We wish to thank him for the exceptional work he has carried out on behalf of the

Meath Association. At the AGM there will be a discussion on how events can be organised in the future. If anyone

has any ideas or would like to volunteer for the Social Calendar subcommittee please contact us.

Work is continuing on the maintenance and restoration of the Boyne Navigation. Recently the Slane Community

Forum group (SCF) have cleaned the vegetation from Slane to Morgan’s Lock. It has been observed that water

levels have been very low on this stretch of the Canal despite recent flooding. This was investigated by SCF and

Geoffrey Clarke of Meath Association. It was discovered that there was a serious leak at the base of the concrete

protective wall in Morgan’s Lock. This has been referred to the Boyne Navigation Branch (BNB) of IWAI for a

solution and remedial works. The Navan Angler’s Group are also assisting the BNG with the clean-up at

Athlumney.

Meath County Council’s Boyne Greenway section at Oldbridge is making good progress, An Taisce in conjunction

with BNG provided technical and engineering input on the design of the Greenway. We recommend members to

take a stroll along the Canal here where they can see the repair work to the retaining wall (damage caused by

large tree growing out from the wall) and the installation of steps.

Tailors’ Hall have lodged an objection submission on our behalf with regards to a planning application on an

archaeological sensitive area.

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The Ellison Awards ceremony will be taking place on the first of November, venue has to be confirmed. This year

we are accepting entries from both Meath and Louth and we are calling on all our members to nominate projects.

The details of the competition will be announced in the coming weeks in the local press and on line.

John Sweeney – a very reasoned Climate Changeinterview on Morning Ireland

After the recent Prime Time Climate Change debacle, Morning Ireland invited JohnSweeney to discuss the launch of the latest IPPC report.

Highlights of the interview in soundbytes (apologies if they are badly transcribed):

Synthesis of research of the last 5 years

Most Climatologists not too surprised

Big bang of Climate science

Whole scientific community come together on this synthesis report

Most alarming – confirmation that for developing world any further warming will reduce food

yields and reduce food security

Emissions from Ireland contributing to food insecurity in developing countries

Bangladesh may lose 20% of its land mass from a 1 metre sea level rise – a population of 160

million with nowhere to go

Climate Change confirming that CC contributing to any severe events – in almost every case –

such as storminess in Ireland

Does it weaken the naysayers – that debate is over scientifically – we must move on from that

puerile and simplistic – scientifically ended many years ago – how do we move on. - How do we

prepare societies?

Positive suggestions in adaptation – Europe can stave off worse effect by acting now by Climate

change proofing our policies, programmes and projects – galvanise into action

Question: Concern re domestic political reaction impact on economy, food production, Food

Harvest 2020. How is government going to react?

Answer: Governments have signed off this report – well over 100 governments gone through

this line by line. It is incumbent on policy makers not to shirk leadership on the problem of

climate change.

Every nation state does behave like an individual and ignores the collective community good of

the planet, including the Government has been trying to seek special exemptions for things like

agricultural emissions.

We all have a burden to share.

We all must do our best in tackling this major problem.

Time for vested interests influencing leadership has passed.

Unless we tackle this together we will all go down together

Those powerful vested interests that have thwarted taking serious action in countries like

Ireland, will suffer as well

Window closing and unless we do something fairly substantial in the next five or ten years the

options for those that came after us have really been reduced.

Interview with John Sweeney on Morning Ireland 98Mb) here..

For your information: George Lee (RTE Agriculture & Environment Correspondent) (7Mb) here...

Guardian report on the launch of IPCC AR5 reportGuardian report on the launch of IPCC report

Warming is leading to more volatile weather patterns that are alreadyreducing crop yields, the IPCC has warned

A United Nations report raised the threat of climate change to a whole new level on Monday, warning of sweeping

consequences to life and livelihood.

The report from the UN's intergovernmental panel on climate change concluded that climate change was already

having effects in real time – melting sea ice and thawing permafrost in the Arctic, killing off coral reefs in the

oceans, and leading to heat waves, heavy rains and mega-disasters.

And the worst was yet to come. Climate change posed a threat to global food stocks, and to human security, the

blockbuster report said.

“Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change,” said Rajendra Pachauri, chair

of the IPCC.

Monday's report was the most sobering so far from the UN climate panel and, scientists said, the most definitive.

The report – a three year joint effort by more than 300 scientists – grew to 2,600 pages and 32 volumes.

The volume of scientific literature on the effects of climate change has doubled since the last report, and the

findings make an increasingly detailed picture of how climate change – in tandem with existing fault lines such as

poverty and inequality – poses a much more direct threat to life and livelihood.

This was reflected in the language. The summary mentioned the word “risk” more than 230 times, compared to

just over 40 mentions seven years ago, according to a count by the Red Cross.

At the forefront of those risks was the potential for humanitarian crisis. The report catalogued some of the

disasters that have been visited around the planet since 2000: killer heat waves in Europe, wildfires in Australia,

and deadly floods in Pakistan.

“We are now in an era where climate change isn't some kind of future hypothetical,” said Chris Field, one of the

two main authors of the report.

Those extreme weather events would take a disproportionate toll on poor, weak and elderly people. The scientists

said governments did not have systems in place to protect those populations. “This would really be a severe

challenge for some of the poorest communities and poorest countries in the world,” said Maggie Opondo, a

geographer from the University of Nairobi and one of the authors.

The warning signs about climate change and extreme weather events have been accumulating over time. But this

report struck out on relatively new ground by drawing a clear line connecting climate change to food scarcity, and

conflict.

The report said climate change had already cut into the global food supply. Global crop yields were beginning to

decline – especially for wheat – raising doubts as to whether production could keep up with population growth.

“It has now become evident in some parts of the world that the green revolution has reached a plateau,” Pachauri

said.

The future looks even more grim. Under some scenarios, climate change could lead to dramatic drops in global

wheat production as well as reductions in maize.

"Climate change is acting as a brake. We need yields to grow to meet growing demand, but already climate

change is slowing those yields," said Michael Oppenheimer, a Princeton professor and an author of the report.

From the IPCC

report

From the IPCC

report

Other food sources are also under threat. Fish catches in some areas of the tropics are projected to fall by

between 40% and 60%, according to the report.

The report also connected climate change to rising food prices and political instability, for instance the riots in Asia

and Africa after food price shocks in 2008.

"The impacts are already evident in many places in the world. It is not something that is [only] going to happen in

the future," said David Lobell, a professor at Stanford University's centre for food security, who devised the

models.

"Almost everywhere you see the warming effects have a negative affect on wheat and there is a similar story for

corn as well. These are not yet enormous effects but they show clearly that the trends are big enough to be

important," Lobell said.

The report acknowledged that there were a few isolated areas where a longer growing season had been good for

farming. But it played down the idea that there may be advantages to climate change as far as food production is

concerned.

Overall, the report said, "Negative impacts of climate change on crop yields have been more common than

positive impacts." Scientists and campaigners pointed to the finding as a defining feature of the report.

The report also warned for the first time that climate change, combined with poverty and economic shocks, could

lead to war and drive people to leave their homes.

With the catalogue of risks, the scientists said they hoped to persuade governments and the public that it was

past time to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to plan for sea walls and other infrastructure that offer some

protection for climate change.

“The one message that comes out of this is the world has to adapt and the world has to mitigate,” said Pachauri.

Download the IPCC AR 5 Summary WG1AR5_SPM_FINAL.pdf

An Taisce obtains leave to take Hinkley Point legalchallenge to the Court of Appeal in London

An Taisce Press Release 27th March 2014

An Taisce - the National Trust for Ireland - today successfullyobtained leave to take its Hinkley Point legal challenge to the Court of Appeal in London

At the end of a brief hearing in London this morning, An Taisce - the National Trust for Ireland - was granted leave

to take its legal challenge regarding Hinkley Point C nuclear power station to the Court of Appeal. The case is

likely to be heard before the end of the summer.

An Taisce argues that the UK government's decision to approve Hinkley Point C nuclear plant (on England's west

coast) without first consulting the public in Ireland is contrary to international, EU and English law.

The High Court in London found against An Taisce's arguments in December 2013, ruling that there was no need

to consult the public in Ireland in the circumstances.

However, earlier this month a UN Committee wrote to the UK government - having first considered the High

Court's judgment and other evidence – stating that in failing to consult its neighbours, Hinkley Point raises "a

profound suspicion of non-compliance" with international law (the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact

Assessment in a Transboundary Context).

This letter - on foot of a complaint to the Espoo Convention's Implementation Committee by Friends of the Irish

Environment – provided strong support for the arguments advanced in An Taisce's legal challenge.

In light of this letter and An Taisce's arguments, Sullivan LJ concluded today that leave to take the case to the

Court of Appeal should indeed be granted, overturning an earlier decision on the papers.

Commenting on today's decision, An Taisce's Natural Environment Officer and In-house solicitor Andrew Jackson

said, "We've always felt we have a very strong case, even following the High Court's decision. We look forward to

airing our arguments before the Court of Appeal. It's important to remember that this case is not about being pro

or anti-nuclear. It's about the public's right to participate in decisions which could affect their lives - fundamental

environmental democratic rights which are underpinned by international and EU law."

He continued, "We must thank our excellent legal team: Leigh Day solicitors and barristers David Wolfe QC and

John Kenny BL. Credit is also due to Friends of the Irish Environment for their excellent work before the Espoo

Convention's Implementation Committee. This is an important public interest case and we trust that the public's

rights will ultimately be vindicated."

Better mobility for the Regeneron application at theformer Dell PlantAn Taisce appealed one condition of the application by Regeneron to redevelop the former Dell plant. This led to

local upset on a misunderstanding that An Taisce had appealed the substantial planning permission.

It is best explained by James Nix’s letter, printed in the Irish Independent.

Dear Sir,

Writing yesterday in this newspaper yesterday (27 March), Paul McNeive criticised An Taisce for

seeking greater levels of public transport, cycling and walking in commuting to work at the former Dell

plant in Limerick. The plant is due to be refurbished and enhanced by Regeneron, a US bio-

pharmaceutical company.

After Regeneron applied for planning permission, An Taisce wrote to Limerick County Council asking

the Council to request Regeneron to develop a mobility plan to guide the company, over time, to

achieve higher levels of public transport, walking and cycling for travel to work. The benefits of having

such a plan include: reduced congestion, better air quality, improved employee health - and, as more

recent studies have shown, improved employee well-being and retention.

However, Limerick County Council granted planning permission without requesting any definite plan to

boost public transport, cycling and walking. To say this jars with Limerick as Ireland’s Smarter Travel

demonstration city is an understatement. Limerick has been granted €9.3m of public funds to increase

public transport, cycling and walking.

An Taisce then appealed the transport condition of the permission to An Bord Pleanála. Only the

transport condition was appealed, something very clear from the document itself. Regrettably, a local

election candidate issued a press release that neglected to make this clear, and a small number of

news outlets covered the release without checking the story – or without making any contact with An

Taisce for balance and fairness.

In your paper yesterday, Paul McNeive was unfortunately wrong-footed by the misreporting described

above. Also, the story has moved on.

An Taisce and Regeneron have since worked together on a revised mobility plan and the appeal on the

transport condition is no longer before An Bord Pleanala. Regeneron and An Taisce followed up with a

joint press release, key quotes from which include:

“An Taisce is very pleased to support the Regeneron investment plan and happy that our concerns on

reducing car dependency, where possible in line with national policy, have been addressed,” said Mr.

Nix. Describing Regeneron’s new mobility management plan as ‘a leading template’, Mr Nix continued,

“An Taisce said that the interests of good environmental management and best corporate practice are

moving ever closer together. An Taisce is delighted to see Regeneron begin the refurbishment of the

former Dell manufacturing building in Limerick in order to bring it back to life as a world class

biopharmaceuticals manufacturing facility”.

“I am delighted with the available talent in Limerick, the progress made thus far on the preliminary

portion of the proposed development, and the great national and regional response we have had to our

investment plan for the Limerick facility,” said Mr. Van Plew. “An Taisce plays an important role

encouraging folks to think about their long term impact on the environment, and we are very happy to

have engaged with An Taisce on issues relating to mobility planning and on other aspects of the

proposed development. Regeneron and An Taisce have much in common in terms of encouraging

sustainable best practice”.

Yours,

James Nix, Policy Director, An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland

An Taisce prevents 'drive thru' in inner-urban Navansite adjacent to a school

An Taisce has successfully appealed a 'drive thru' at Brew's Hill, Navan, Co Meath.

The subject site was immediately adjacent to the entrance to St. Joseph's Mercy

Primary School. An Taisce's primary concern was the exposure of students to foods that are high in fat, salt and

sugar. Speaking on behalf of An Taisce, Tomás Bradley stated: ' we are delighted An Bord Pleanála has taken

careful consideration of the appropriateness and location of fast food outlets in the vicinity of schools and parks,

as advocated by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in their Draft Local Area

Plan Guidelines 2012 '

There are other issues at the location, as outlined by An Taisce to the planning appeals board. Mr Bradley noted: '

a better design solution can be achieved at this site that would enhance the character of the area rather than

permit an anti-urban development which promotes unsustainable modes of travel and undermines the active

function of the street and town centre'.

An Bord Pleanála signed the order to refuse the drive-thru on the 24th March 2014 on the grounds that the

streetscape and visual amenities of the area would be seriously injured.

An Taisce calls on MEP’s to ‘Fly in the face ofbullying over Airline ETS’ - Press Release 18/03/2014

Please vote NO to the dismantling of the Aviation ETS

EU member states have succumbed to pressure from third countries and the

aviation industry and decided to shrink the aviation emissions trading system (ETS) to only cover flights between

EU airports until 2016. This decision leaves long-haul flights totally unregulated and sends the signal

internationally that EU sovereignty can be curtailed through outside pressure.

The European Parliament's Environment Committee votes on 19 March 2014 on this flawed agreement on

aviation in the Emissions Trading System. An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland believes this deal should be

REJECTED and urges all Members of the European Parliament to vote NO to it in order to secure a better deal.

Members of the European Parliament will have to approve the EU government’s decision for it to become law. If

the Parliament rejects the deal, the original EU law will resume with full effect.

James Nix An Taisce’s Policy Director said: “With this deal European governments have conceded again to

international pressure without getting anything meaningful in return, let alone guarantees that soaring international

aviation emissions will one day be tackled. Shrinking the aviation ETS to cover intra-EU flights effectively amounts

to the dismantling of a European climate law. We urge MEPs to stand firm for Europe’s principles and sovereign

rights, especially in today’s circumstances, and reject this deal.”

Print and make your own paper plane calling for MEPs to vote NO to dismantling the aviation ETS .

Notes:

For further Information see http://www.transportenvironment.org/aviationETS

An Taisce is a member of Transport & Environment http://www.transportenvironment.org/

Aviation is the most carbon-intensive transport mode, responsible for about 5% of man-made climate

change. If aviation were a country it would be ranked 7th in the world for CO2 emissions – between

Germany and Korea. EU aviation emissions, a third of global totals, have doubled since 1990 and will triple

by 2050 if unchecked.

This deal would reduce the amount of CO2 emissions covered by three quarters if compared with the

original scheme, which sought to charge carbon fees for the full length of flights in and out of the EU. It

shrinks coverage by a third compared with the Commission proposal, backed by the environment

committee of the European Parliament, which sought to cover emissions from flights in EU airspace and

capture at least a part of emissions from flights to and from third countries.

The decision essentially represents an extension of the one-year suspension known as ‘stop the clock’ until

2016. Stop the clock was an interim solution devised in 2012 to allow ICAO, the United Nations aviation

body, to agree a global scheme to tackle aviation’s climate impact. But last October ICAO failed to make

meaningful progress, merely agreeing to ‘develop’ (which is not the same as implement) a global deal for

2020.

Why does Prime Time continue to promote Punchand Judy Shows – An Taisce

An Taisce Press Release 13/03/2014

Ireland’s leading Climate Scientist withdraws from Prime Time onClimate Change

Prime Time invited John Sweeney, Ireland’s leading Climate Scientist, onto the Panel and some members of An

Taisce into the audience for next Tuesday’s show on ‘Climate Change’. We looked forward to contributing to the

debate on how we should deal with the serious problems that ‘Climate Change’ will present to our children and

grandchildren.

However, we have since learnt that Prime Time will be flying a ‘Climate Denier’ in from the UK for the night. We

suppose that they have the idea that a ‘Punch and Judy’ show between opposing members of the panel will make

‘Good Television’, one which will certainly generate much heat but very little light.

John Sweeney has decided not to participate and An Taisce has decided to boycott this Prime Time show.

An Taisce is asking the Director General and the Programme’s Producers to explain if they understand ‘Climate

Science’ and the difference between scientific balance and journalistic balance. Is Prime Time fulfilling its ‘Public

Service Broadcasting’ remit? We are sure that it would be possible to find some expert that does not agree that

smoking causes cancer but would RTE put them on a panel to discuss lung cancer?

The scientific debate on the validity of climate change has ended with the realisation that for the sake of future

generations global warming must be restricted to 2 C.

Public deserves a debate that discusses how to achieve this and:

Enables an honest discussion of Climate Change policy choices within the accepted bounds of peer-

reviewed science.

Encourages a national discussion on fair and independent annual Green House Gas (GHG) budgets and

binding National and International targets

Emphasises that Ireland must play its part in actually achieving real change.

The general public is largely unaware of the threats to their future and their children’s futures. For the public to

have an honest picture of the nature of the climate change risks they face and an involvement in how they are

tackled, the debate must move on to problem solving.

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An Bord Pleanála ignores climate science andGovernment policy - again - Press Release12/03/2014

An Bord Pleanála has shown once again that it is ignoring climatescience and Government transport policy in its decision-making

on key planning applications.

That's according to Ireland's planning watchdog, An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland, after the planning

appeals board issued two further decisions disregarding climate science and national transport policy.

Dublin Airport Authority has been granted permission to continue using 10,200 long term surface car parking

spaces - even though the retention of these spaces is completely incompatible with the Government's Smarter

Travel policy.

The last week also saw the planning appeals board approve a drive-through fast foot outlet on the historic Boyne

Valley approach to Drogheda, which will see higher levels of car-borne commuting while reducing patronage at

long-established restaurants in Drogheda town centre. Again, this is contrary to Government transport policy - as

well as damaging the regeneration of Irish towns.

In 2009 the Government adopted progressive targets for transport through "Smarter Travel: A new transport

policy for Ireland 2009-2020". The policy set down that:

"there will be a considerable shift to public transport and other sustainable forms of travel",

that "the present levels of traffic congestion and travel times will be significantly reduced",

"work related commuting by car will be reduced from a current modal share of 65% to 45%", and

"the total kilometres travelled by the car fleet in 2020 will not increase significantly from current total car

kilometres".

These two most recent decisions by An Bord Pleanála follow closely on regressive determinations for retail

expansion of the Liffey Valley and Kildare Village shopping centres.

Weak decision-making by An Bord Pleanála has also given local councils comfort to systemically ignore

Government transport policy, as evidenced by Kildare Co Co's handling of the Kerry Group campus in Naas and

decisions in Limerick on the redevelopment of the Dell site.

There are emerging parallels with the failure of banking regulation in the mid-2000s, concluded An Taisce.

Notes:

Smarter Travel: A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009 – 2020 sets out a series of overriding policy objectives in

Chapter 3, summarised as follows:

1. Future population employment growths will predominantly take place in sustainable compact forms which

reduces the need to travel for employment and services;

2. 500,000 more people will take alternative means to commute to work to the extent that the total share of

car commuting will drop from 65% to 45%;

3. Alternatives such as walking, cycling and public transport will be supported and provided to the extent that

these will rise to 55% of total commuter journeys to work;

4. The total kilometres travelled by the car fleet in 2020 will not increase significantly from current levels;

5. A reduction will be achieved on the 2005 figure for Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.

Ireland needs a holistic energy plan - An Taisce -Press Release 10/03/2014

Stand down of agreements to export renewable energy to theUK gives a vital window to address Ireland's energy needs.

In the wake of the announcement last week by the Minister for Energy, Communication and Natural Resources,

Pat Rabbitte TD, that plans to export wind energy from Ireland to the UK are unlikely to go ahead in the short term

, An Taisce has asked the Minister to advance a holistic energy plan for Ireland.

An Taisce previously outlined its concern regarding Ireland locking in to the export of electricity while failing to

make cuts to energy imports, leaving Ireland's domestic energy situation extremely exposed.

At the same time Ireland is facing massive penalties and costs through failing to meet its own national obligations

on energy emissions.

An Taisce now calls on Minister Pat Rabbitte TD to use the unplanned stand down on the export agreement to

plan for its energy future that tackles the twin problems of climate change and energy security.

According to Ireland's National Trust, the process should be an open partnership and consultation with the citizens

of Ireland, the end result being a National Energy Strategy.

The strategy should outline:

How our energy consumption will be reduced.

A comprehensive household energy insulation under which 100,000 homes are enhanced each year to cut

heating bills and enhance comfort levels.

An assessment of the types of renewable energy & storage that could be available.

A spatial strategy which addresses the issues associated with renewable energy projects such as location

and siting.

An assessment of how National requirements and Local requirements can be balanced.

An assessment of how local and national communities can participate in the decision making.

An assessment of how strengthened two way import/export interconnection with the UK & Europe may

overcome the need for backup gas fired generation.

How to stop further carbon loss from peat extraction and degradation.

How to cease peat based electricity generation within the next 12 to 14 months

Phasing out coal burning at Moneypoint over the next 3 to 4 years

The timetabled phase-out of all peat, coal and oil in domestic heating.

[1]

[2]

Ireland's energy challenge is immense. The scale of action to reduce climate emissions and secure our energy

future needs to be considered as comparable to a national emergency, and treated similarly.

Notes:

[1] http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/agribusiness-and-food/multi-billion-wind-energy-deal-unlikely-to-

proceed-as-planned-1.1716726#.Uxn7yo0RCZw.twitter

[2] http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/B5FAC8D5-C72E-47E6-9A40-

15B8BA27A71D/0/Stage1PublicConsultationresponsesAnTaisce.pdf

An Taisce publishes ‘Schematic Map’ of DublinTransport Proposals - Press Release 07/03/2014

An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland supports the sensible list of

Public Transport projects in the draft Integrated Implementation Plan for the

Greater Dublin Area, and the Bus Rapid Transit proposals. To help illustrate the

benefits of the proposals An Taisce has published a schematic 'London

Underground' style map of current transport proposals that might realistically

happen. It includes the Red and Green Luas, the Phoenix Park tunnel,

electrification of the Maynooth and Kildare lines and the three Bus Rapid Transit

Routes.

James Leahy, An Taisce’s Hon. Secretary, states: "These proposals are very exciting because they are affordable

and can be quickly constructed using the local skills we have built up from building the Luas and Quality Bus

corridors”.

It is apparent from the map that An Taisce has published, that for the first time Dublin could get sufficient transport

services to provide us with an integrated network. This will allow people to get to many different places in the city

by making only one or two transfers. Other cities have shown that there is a ‘network effect’ with public transport.

Once you have a critical mass of integrated services, then public transport use grows much faster than it does for

isolated projects.

Speaking on behalf of An Taisce, the leading environmental charity, James Leahy stated “If the plan works, as it

has elsewhere, we will have a system that could be extended to cover the whole city to serve all. This can never

happen with rail projects alone, in our sprawling low-density city. To compete with other European cities we need

to provide a city that is attractive and liveable and this makes this possible."

An Taisce will be submitting detailed comments to the public consultation and encourage others to do the same.

EU funds must be used to protect environmentArticle for The Examiner Farming Section - Thursday, March 13, 2014

By Jack McCarthy and Andrew Jackson, Natural Environment Office, An Taisce – the

National Trust for Ireland

See here for Examiner http://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/profile/eu-funds-must-be-

used-to-protect-environment-261774.html

Introduction

About 64% of Ireland’s land area is used for agriculture, so it’s impossible to overstate the significance of the

sector. Despite €2.18 billion having been paid out to farmers under various agri-environment schemes in Ireland

between 1994 and 2006 (and more since), these schemes have failed in their objectives. That is, they have failed

to deliver sufficient protection for Ireland’s biodiversity and they have not ensured that ecosystems can support a

vibrant agricultural sector in the long term.

An EU-wide assessment in 2009 concluded that “the conservation status of all habitat types associated with

agriculture is significantly worse than other types of habitat: only 7% of such assessments are favourable,

compared to 21% for ‘non-agricultural’ habitats. This is due to shifts towards more intensive agriculture,

abandonment of the land and poor land management.”

Ireland’s farmers are not the root cause of this problem. Financial incentives which favour intensive farming,

poorly designed agri-environment schemes, inadequate targeting and baseline setting and little or no monitoring

of results are largely to blame. The new Rural Development Programme offers an opportunity to break with this

past.

Q1: What was the thrust of An Taisce’s submission in response to the recent public consultation on the

new Rural Development Programme?

Past agri-environment schemes have tended to favour distributing money to as many farmers as possible in a

broad-brush or ‘few-strings-attached’ manner. Our submission advocates targeted, outcome-based agri-

environment schemes which are integrated at a regional scale. This approach is strongly supported by research

and practice elsewhere in Europe.

This would mean putting more time and resources into the development of plans for each individual farm, giving

farmers a more active role in planning and monitoring processes, focusing more on outcomes (as opposed to

actions), as well as coordinating plans between farms for maximum regional impact. We have a good precedent in

the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (BurrenLIFE), but this is unfortunately an isolated example.

If well designed, agri-environment schemes can help deliver important public goods in the form of clean water,

clean air, carbon sequestration, higher biodiversity, and long-term food security.

Q2: Does An Taisce’s vision resonate with current agricultural policy?

No. The Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) plan promoted by the Department of Agriculture - based on so-called

‘sustainable intensification’ - will exacerbate the environmental crises we are facing.

Of particular concern is the target to increase the volume of dairy output by 50%, much of this to supply a growing

international demand for infant formula. The environmental assessment carried out for the Department of

Agriculture predicts negative impacts in terms of water quality, GHG emissions and biodiversity, yet the

government remains wedded to the plan.

Agriculture was responsible in 2012 for one third (32.1%) of Ireland’s total climate emissions. This is much higher

than our transport or energy or industrial sectors. The EPA projects an increase of 12% in agricultural emissions

by 2020 as a result of FH2020, so things are set to get worse, not better.

‘Sustainable intensification’ will not secure the deep absolute GHG reductions that are needed to avoid extreme

weather events, flooding, and the “cascade of cataclysmic changes” predicted by the World Bank.

Q3: Do you feel that the funds being offered as part of the proposed GLAS scheme will have the desired

impact?

Evidence suggests that the maximum of €5,000 per farmer under GLAS and the additional €2,000 available

under GLAS+ will not be sufficient. The fixed caps placed on these payments do not reflect the farm-to-farm

variability of critical environmental work. For this reason An Taisce is advocating better targeting of funding. We

acknowledge that there is a limited budget, but that budget could have been significantly higher had the

government chosen to co-fund at a rate of 50% (rather than 46%) and transferred the allowable 15% (roughly

€180m/year) from CAP Pillar 1 (direct subsidies) to Pillar 2 to fund agri-environment schemes.

The Department of Agriculture needs to start taking the environment seriously. It underpins the economy and

ultimately our survival. But the Department has poor form in this area: in 2013 it slashed the budget for Ireland’s

most important protected areas - comprising 13% of Ireland’s landmass - by more than 80%, from €528 million to

€95 million, and reallocated the money elsewhere. Precisely where the money was spent is unclear. We need a

new approach.

Q4: Should the EU develop a new view on the way it identifies and funds groups with a role to play in

protecting the continent's environment?

Yes. 0.2% of the EU’s budget is dedicated to nature conservation and other environmental aims via the LIFE

funding instrument. In contrast, CAP took up 34% of the EU’s entire budget in the years 2007-13. The contrast is

stark. Irish environmental organisations remain dramatically underfunded. EU funding is available only to NGOs

which operate in 3+ EU countries, making most ineligible.

Even with the huge dedication of our staff, interns, volunteers and members it is very difficult for a charity like

ourselves to compete with louder voices like the IFA. The IFA is very well funded owing in part to a levy imposed

on every animal sold at Irish marts and factories. This is an optional levy but it’s described opaquely as the

“European involvement fund”, so most farmers don’t realise where it goes or that they can opt out. The levy

generates millions each year for the IFA. There’s now a head of steam behind a campaign for smaller farmers -

i.e. the vast majority of farmers - to opt out of paying this levy. This might help to level the playing field a little, and

in turn secure a sustainable future for the true champions of Irish agriculture.

National Spring Clean 1st - 30th April 2014Registration for NSC 2014 is now open!!

2013 was a hugely successful campaign so thank you and congratulations to the thousands of

volunteers who took part. Here are some of the stats:

There were 5351 clean-up events nationwide

An estimated 550.4 tonnes of litter was collected

Approximately 35% of the total amount of waste collected was recycled

The National Spring Clean is Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative organised by An Taisce and funded by the

Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

The campaign runs throughout the month of April every year with clean-up events taking place in towns and

communities all over the country. Over 500,000 volunteers participated in clean-ups throughout the country last

April. Taking part in the National Spring Clean is very straight forward. Organise for a clean-up of your local area,

which can take place any time during the month of April, and register your event online or by phone.

Taking part in the National Spring Clean is very straight forward. Organise for a clean up of your local area, to take

place any time during April, and register your event online, by phone, fax or post. To register online go to

http://www.nationalspringclean.org.

Once you have registered you will receive a FREE clean-up kit from An Taisce. The clean up kit contains

valuable tips on how to hold a successful clean-up event, posters to advertise your event, ideas on how to make

your event different and lots more useful information. The pack also includes plastic bags in which to collect your

litter and recylcable material, tabards to keep your clothes clean and gloves to keep your hands safe and clean.

Because National Spring Clean encourages recycling, a number of colour coded bags are provided for collection

of litter that can be recycled. Recycling helps reduce the production of greenhouse gases and therefore climate

change.

When you register you become a member of National Spring Clean. This will allow you to post details of your

event on our Events section. Members who also post a report of their event when it has been comlpeted

will receive an NSC Certificate. Once you have a firm date for your event you should contact your Local

Authority's Environmental Officer Click for contact list. They will provide you with details for rubbish disposal after

your clean-up.

Litter is always caused by people.

It is waste in the wrong place which ruins the appearance of our cities, towns,

villages and countryside. Litter has many forms and many sources, from a sweet

wrapper or cigarette butt thrown on the street to a dumped bag of rubbish, a fly-tipped load of demolition rubble or

a dog fouled public park. Local Authorities spend tens of millions of euros every year on cleaning the streets in

Ireland and trying to prevent people from dumping their waste illegally – an enormous amount of money that could

be spent on better things! Estimates indicate that collecting litter is nearly ten times more expensive per tonne

than collecting domestic waste.

Litter such as broken bottles and cans left lying around public areas can easily result in an injury, while food litter

can attract rats and flies, which spread disease. Litter is also lethal to wildlife, from discarded fishing lines that can

maim and kill water birds, to plastic bags mistaken for food and ingested by animals such as cows, sheep, horses

and some marine animals.

Recent research by TCD (Gray & Gray 2004) on the littering of minor roads in Ireland indicated that the number of

litter items deposited on these roads was an average over 3,500 items per kilometre of road per year. One site

surveyed had levels of littering of over 10,000 items per kilometre per year!! Almost 60% of identifiable litter items

were beverage containers and packaging. Furthermore, this study indicated that the roadside litter eventaully

ends up in watercourses and on agricultural land were it causes animal injury and death, crop contamination and

machinery damage.

Litter & Climate Change

It is common knowledge that there is accelerated warming of the earth due to rising concentrations of heat-

trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which are caused by human activities. Most products we buy and

use cause greenhouse gas emissions in some way, e.g. during production and distribution. They also contribute

towards exhausting our natural resources. Packaging takes energy to produce, therefore by cutting down on

packaging production, and also through recycling, we can reduce the amount of energy used and limit the release

of further greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere.

Your contribution during the National Spring Clean, however big or small, will have real and measurable

benefits for our environment.

For example:

For every aluminium can collected and recycled enough energy is saved to run your television

for three hours!

For 1kg of recycled plastics collected, 1.5kg of carbon dioxide is prevented from being released

to the atmosphere (the same amount of carbon dioxide released by toasting 30 slices of bread!)

By recycling 1kg of paper instead of landfilling, enough energy is saved to run an energy-saving

bulb non-stop for two days! For 1kg of recycled glass, the saving is 300g of carbon dioxide

Further benefits to our environment from reduced waste and litter include a reduction of pollutants in our natural

ecosystems, and improved visual amenity in our landscapes.

In future you might consider:

Choosing products with minimal or no packaging

Re-using plastic bags

Buying re-fills where possible.

Clean Coasts WeekIt’s that time of year again!

Celebrate Ireland’s spectacular coastline by getting involved in Coca-Cola Clean Coasts

Week 2014. The week runs from May 9 – 18 and there are many ways for you to take

part.

CLEAN-UPs

We have all seen the evidence of marine litter along our coastline so for all you beach lovers out there here's an

opportunity to do something positive to combat the problem and also raise awareness about the issue. Why

not create your own beach clean event or participate in one from May 9 to May 18 . Every piece of litter

removed from the coast is a piece of litter that won't pollute our oceans or harm wildlife. Register now to get your

free clean-up kit.

COASTAL CELEBRATION EVENTS

Join us in celebration by attending some of the free coastal celebration events that will be happening around the

country, register early for these fantastic events to avoid disappointment. If you would like to host your own

coastal celebration event then get in touch with us!

To register a clean-up or find out more about our coastal celebration events please visit www.cleancoastsweek.ie

Thank you again for everything you do to make Clean Coasts such a success.

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An Taisce on Facebook and TwitterPlease follow us on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com) and Twitter

(@AnTaisce) - we try to get you up to the minute news and views.

Lecture by the President of the European Cyclists'Federation

Dublin, Thu 24th April

Manfred Neun, President of the European Cyclists' Federation (

www.ecf.com) will speaking on the topic "Cycling Makes Sense - The

Economic Benefits of Investing in Cycling!" on Thursday 24th April @ 7pm in the Wood Quay Venue, Fishamble

Street, Dublin 8. ( http://www.woodquayvenue.ie/). All An Taisce members and supporters are very welcome to

attend. Entry is free on the night and no pre-booking is necessary. The lecture is part of the wider series of events

around Ireland hosting the prestigious AGM of the ECF. Full details are here:

http://www.dublincycling.ie/events/we-invite-you-ireland-2014-ecf-agm or contact damien.otuama@antaisce.org

for further information.

Green-Schools celebrate World Water Day '14 inGlendalough

An Taisce Green-Schools, in partnership with Irish Water, celebrated UN World Water Day 2014

with a Walking for Water event at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow yesterday, Wednesday March 26th.

Beginning at 10am, 100 students and teachers from nine schools walked approximately six kilometres, carrying

six litres of water through Glendalough, to highlight the reality of water scarcity for children in developing

countries, where many children must walk an average of 6 km every day to get clean water. Activities along the

trail included the demonstration of a tip-tap, a simple structure made from recycled materials which allows

families to wash their hands where there is no running water. Talks throughout the walk explored how children in

the developing world access clean water and also focused on the plants and animals in the glacial valley of

Glendalough.

The day began with a welcome from the manager of An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme, Anthony Purcell and

Elizabeth Arnett Head of Communications & Corporate Servivces, Irish Water. Following this a ceremonial

planting of a native oak tree took place.

“Taking part in World Water Day and the Green-Schools programme offers students an opportunity to consider

their own water demands and requirements and also water issues in a global context. This particular event gave

students an opportunity to experience some of what it is like for those less fortunate who have to travel long

distances to access clean water.” said Anthony Purcell, An Taisce.

Elizabeth Arnett from Irish Water added, “Irish Water is delighted to team up with Green-Schools for World Water

Day. This event highlights the scarcity of clean water in many developing countries. It is most often women and

children who must travel long distances to collect water, which often prevents them from going to school and

working. This event empowers students in Ireland to become aware of the importance of water and to take action

in raising awareness of such an important issue”.

The theme of this year’s UN World Water Day is Water & Energy and students

from Green-Schools around the country will raise awareness about water

inequality and energy demands around the world by organising their own

events and activities to mark World Water Day.

Learn more about Walking for Water and how to host your own event here. View images from Wednesday event

on our Flickr page here.

News from Green Communities

The first 2014 Green Communities training event took place on Tuesday the 25 of

February, and involved a visit to the Rosemount Biology Field Station at the UCD

Campus in Belfield, Dublin 4. There was a great turnout of 23 people for this mid week

event, despite the cold weather, and a location that can be difficult to find. The weather was actually very kind to

us, and after having experienced a horrible heavy rain shower at 2 pm, Dublin was clear and sunny as we set off

towards UCD at 3 pm. Some participants were already at the field station by 3:30 pm and everyone had arrived by

4:30 pm.

The training started at 4 pm with a talk and demonstration by Kevin Kenny of the different tools used to graft, bud,

and prune apple trees. This looked at differences in quality, correct use, and maintenance of tools. I have attached

some photographs of our activity with this email.

By the time that we set out into the Lamb Clarke Historic Orchard everyone had arrived, and the weather was still

clear, although cold. We were lucky in missing most of two showers that skirted by to the north, but that provided

excellent rainbows for background orchard photography. Kevin explained that the original orchard plantings at this

site are now reaching full maturity at 24 years old. Apple trees are commercially viable fruiting trees up until about

30 years of age, although they can last for over 100 years. Because cultivars can have weak vitality it is better not

to take grafts from aged trees as the resulting clone may not provide a good fruit yield.

The purpose of pruning is to control shape, size, and vitality of the apple tree, all of which contribute towards its

optimum fruit yield. The preferred technique is the “Dutch Cut” which delivers a conical shaped tree with around 7

lower fruiting branches, 3-5 middle fruiting branches, and 3 top branches. This shape of tree maximizes fruit

production and delivers sunlight to all parts of the tree. Pruning must begin after 1 year’s growth, within the

dormant winter months, and must stop the runaway vertical growth by pruning at about 80 cm to encourage the

growth of lateral fruiting branches.

After tea and sandwiches we were given another indoor class by Kevin on grafting and budding. Unsurprisingly

there are multiple varieties of graft and budding technique but there are a few basics to consider. Grafting is done

in the winter, while budding propagation is carried out during the summer months of growth. All apple trees sold

commercially are either budded or grafted trees. The selected variety, or top of the tree, is referred to as the scion,

and is grafted or budded onto a rootstock of choice. The rootstock determines the relative size of the tree but

does not affect the type of fruit or the quality of the fruit that the tree bears.With grafting the upper part of the root

stock is cut obliquely and joined together with an obliquely cut sample of scion wood, derived from the preferred

fruiting cultivar. This asexually provides a new fruit tree. The majority of size-controlling rootstocks originated in

England. The "M" prefix refers to the East Malling Research Station, England, where much of the initial research

was conducted in the early 1900's. The "MM." prefix, Malling-Merton, refers to hybrid trees of the Malling series

crossed with "Northern Spy" in Merton, England in the 1920's. For demonstration purposes Kevin used M9

Rootstock grown in the Netherlands, and scion wood that was from an Irish Cultivar called Yellow Pitcher.

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Budding employs the same principles as grafting but only attaches a dormant bud to the rootstock. When this

cultivar bud begins to grow the original root stock shoots are pruned away. Using this method it is possible to have

multiple apple cultivars growing on one tree!

By the time that the training was complete at 7 pm at least 9 different community garden and community groups

were trained on how to begin growing their own Historic Irish Apple Cultivars at home and within the community.

Robert Moss

Green Communities Manager

As part of their Green-Schools

Travel programme students,

parents and teachers from Scoil

Naomh Teresa, Ballintogher, Co.

Sligo celebrated their first No

Car Tuesday (NCT) event by

walking to school on Tuesday,

March 4th.

Green-Schools March EzineThe March Green Schools eZine is here ....

Don’t forget to keep an eye on GreenSchoolsIreland.org for

updates and information alongside resources, case studies

and support materials. You can also follow us on Twitter, like us on

Facebook, listen to us on Soundcloud, watch us on YouTube and view our

photos on Flickr. We love hearing about your school's programme so don't

forget to email us with any news and photos for our website and ezine.

Missed any of our previous ezines? Check out all other past issues here.

Dates for your Diary

April is National Spring Clean Month! Learn more and get involved

here.

22nd April: Earth Day

Photo: Irish Times

Irish Times - Buildings at RiskThe Irish Times began a welcome new series on historic buildings at risk, beginning with

Aldborough House, the most important at-risk building in Dublin -

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/buildings-at-risk-aldborough-

house-dublin-1.1739145

Civil society call for full transparency about the EU-US trade negotiations

An Taisce proposed successfully that the Environmental Pillarvoted to support the signing of the attached letter re the

Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership. The Environmental Pillar signature has nowbeen added.

Dear Commissioner De Gucht,

The undersigned organisations are writing to express deep concerns about the lack of transparency

around the ongoing trade talks on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). We are

calling on you to open the negotiation process to the public, by releasing the negotiating mandate,

documents submitted by the EU, and negotiating texts.

The European Commission has repeatedly stated that trade and investment between the European

Union (EU) and the United States (US) are already highly integrated, and that the main focus of TTIP

will be to achieve regulatory convergence by removing so-called non-tariff barriers to trade. This means

that the outcome has much less to do with traditional trade issues such as tariffs, than with the

regulations and standards that apply in the EU and the US and that affect every single aspect of

citizens’ daily lives – from the quality of the food we eat to the safety of chemicals we use, the energy

we consume, or the impact of financial services on each of us.

Civil society groups in the EU and in the US have voiced concerns that this might lower standards and

remove safeguards across the board. They have requested greater transparency about the

negotiations to address these concerns. The setting up of a stakeholder advisory group for the

negotiations by the EU – although an improvement compared to previous negotiations – is far from

sufficient to make the process fully transparent. Members of the group will have limited access to the

negotiating texts under strict confidentiality rules, and these will remain out of reach for the rest of

interested civil society groups and citizens.

The European Commission has argued that secrecy in this process is inevitable because this is a

matter of international relations. If these negotiations are intended to affect domestic regulations,

standards and safeguards on each side, then citizens have the right to know what is being put on the

table, and how this is being negotiated. The standard legislative process in the EU allows for public

scrutiny of each step of policy-making as well as full involvement of the European Parliament.

We would urge that those negotiations should comply with the same level of openness. The process

should also allow for public accountability of the European Commission for the negotiating positions

that it takes. Given that many of the issues under negotiation relate to the environment, this would also

reflect the EU’s obligations under Article 3(7) of the Aarhus Convention to promote access to

information, public participation and access to justice in international environmental decision-making

processes.

Furthermore there are several examples of international negotiation processes, which provide a greater

degree of openness to civil society than the negotiations on TTIP do, and whereby negotiating

documents are disclosed. Examples include: -

The World Trade Organisation (WTO): Even the WTO, which is regularly the subject of criticisms

by civil society and member states, makes submissions made by member states in the

negotiations, as well as offers, and reports by committee chairs available on its website.

The United Nations Framework for Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The negotiating

texts and submissions from the parties are circulated before the negotiations start. Observers,

including external stakeholders, attend the sessions, and can provide submissions on request

by the parties.

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO): Draft negotiating documents are being

released all along the process. Meetings are open to the public, and webcasted .

The Aarhus Convention: Meetings of the governing body and its subsidiary bodies are as a rule

public. Accredited observers can participate in meetings of parties and in drafting groups

working in collaboration with parties to develop text during the negotiations. They have the same

speaking rights as parties.

With this letter, we would like to restate our call for openness and public accountability of the TTIP

negotiations. Without full transparency, there can be no meaningful engagement of civil society

representatives in the process. Basic transparency requirements include making the following available

for the public at the earliest possible stage and at regular intervals:

The text of the EU’s negotiating mandate;

The initial position papers tabled by the EU;

Any further papers submitted by the EU in the course of the negotiations that detail or explain

the position of the EU on the topic, and that are being used in the course of the negotiations with

the other party;

The draft versions and final versions of individual chapters as well as the whole agreement at all

steps of preparation and evolution (and at least before closing the negotiations and initialling so

that parliaments and the public can still assess the outcome and make comments and

recommendations).

If the European Commission is serious about openness and engagement of the public, it should also

proactively make the following available:

All written communications between the European Commission and other European institutional

bodies (European Parliament and Member States) on this issue;

All agendas and minutes of meetings between the European Commission and the European

Parliament and Member States on this issue;

All written communications between the European Commission and third parties –including

industry and lobby organisations – on this issue;

All agendas and minutes of meetings between the European Commission and third parties –

including industry and lobby organisations – on this issue.

Yours sincerely,

EPA National Water Event 2014 - ADVANCE NOTICEDate: 11 & 12 June 2014

Venue: Galway Area – To Be Confirmed

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EU Stakeholders consultation - Sustainabletransport

Promoting the development of harmonised carbon footprinting measures for both

freight and passenger transport services in Europe

Consultation period: 21/03/2014 - 13/06/2014

online questionnaire

Background

Carbon footprinting is a method to generate data about the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of transport

operations on an aggregated level of a company, or more detailed, on the level of a trip and service, like the

delivery of a parcel. Many initiatives, both at the EU and global level, have been deployed for identifying carbon

footprints of transport services. Also several tools are available for comparing various transport modes on the

GHG emissions. However, at the moment there exists no universally accepted definition of the concept of carbon

footprint. Existing methodologies and tools for measuring the carbon footprint show manifold divergences and

inconsistencies between them.

The availability of carbon footprints of transport services that are based on a common methodology and the

increased use of carbon footprinting by the industry may improve the GHG performance of the transport sector. In

order to contribute to the harmonisation of carbon footprinting measurement for both freight and passenger

transport services in Europe, the Commission launched a study supporting the assessment of impacts for

possible actions to be undertaken at the EU level.

The context of the consultation is explained in more detail in the background document.

Aim of this questionnaire

The consultation is aimed to map the opinions of stakeholders across the EU regarding harmonisation of carbon

footprinting at the service level. The questionnaire has 53 (multiple choice and open) questions and will take

approximately 30 minutes to answer.

The questionnaire is structured as follows:

1. Respondent's profile

2. Current status of carbon footprinting

3. Problem definition

4. Objective

5. Policy measures

Target group

Companies, public authorities, academia, associations and other stakeholders who have an interest in the issue

of standardisation and harmonisation of carbon footprinting in the transport sector.

Disclaimer

Please note that this document has been drafted for information and consultation purposes only. It has not been

adopted or in any way approved by the European Commission and should not be regarded as representing the

views of the Commission. It does not prejudge, or constitute the announcement of any position on the part of the

Commission on the issues covered. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the

information provided, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.

Related documents

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/sustainable/consultations/2014-06-13-harmonised-carbon-footprinting-

measures_en.htm

Background document

Natural Capital: Ireland's Hidden WealthApril 28-29, 2014

National Botanic Gardens, Dublin

"Member Stateswill assess the economic value of such [ecosystem] services, and promote the integration of

these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by 2020." - Action 5, EU Biodiversity

Strategy to 2020

We often say that nature is priceless, but we treat it as though it were economically worthless: we fail to include

the value of natural capital resources, and the ecosystem goods and services that flow from them, in our national

accounting systems like GDP. However, that is changing very rapidly: governments and business leaders alike

now recognise that there is an urgent need to accurately evaluate the benefits and costs of our relationship with

the environment in economic terms, as the impacts of diminishing resources, increasing environmental

degradation, and climate change, become more and more apparent.

Ireland is already committed, under EU and national legislation, “to assess the economic value of such services,

and promote the integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by

2020.” But there has been very little general awareness of this commitment to date. Work on this exciting – and

challenging – endeavour is only beginning in Ireland, but some very promising studies have already been done,

here and internationally, which unlock hidden wealth in our landscapes. The Natural Capital conference will

highlight and advance this important task with government, private and semi-state corporations, national

institutions and the general public.

Natural Capital: Ireland’s Hidden Wealth, will host leading international and national figures in this field, including:

James Aronson, Centre D’Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Evolutive (CNRS)

Dan O'Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute for International and European Affairs

Micheal O'Briain, Natural Capital Directorate at Environment DG Brussels

Feargal O Coigligh, Assistant Secretary of the Irish Dept. of Arts, Heritage, and Gaeltacht

The aim of the conference is to provide a clearer and more positive understanding of natural capital values, using

international and national case studies and to encourage and facilitate public and private sectors to initiate the

development of accounting systems that value natural capital.

Winners of 2014 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage /Europa Nostra Awards announced

The Hague/Brussels, 20 March 2014 - The winners of the 2014 European

Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are unveiled

today by the European Commission and Europa Nostra.

The 27 laureates, selected from 160 nominated projects across 30 countries, are honoured for achievements in

four areas: conservation; research; dedicated service; education, training and awareness-raising.

The award ceremony will take place on 5 May at the Burgtheater in Vienna, under the patronage of the President

of Austria, Heinz Fischer. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism

and Youth, and Plácido Domingo, the internationally-renowned opera singer and President of Europa Nostra, will

jointly present the awards.

Six of the winners will be named as Grand Prix laureates, receiving €10 000 each, and one will receive the Public

Choice Award, chosen in an online poll conducted by Europa Nostra. As well as celebrating excellence in cultural

heritage work, the Prize aims to promote high-quality skills and standards in conservation.

VOTE FOR OUR PUBLIC CHOICE AWARD

We invite you to vote for your favourite heritage achievements among the 27 winners of the 2014

European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards.

VOTE NOW

vote.europanostra.org

The winner of our "Public Choice Award" will be announced and presented during the European

Heritage Awards Ceremony to be held on 5 May 2014 at the Burgtheater in Vienna. This Ceremony will

be co-hosted by Maestro Placido DOMINGO, President of Europa Nostra and Androulla VASSILIOU,

European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

Please invite your friends and colleagues to vote as well!

Deadline for voting: 22 April 2014

"I would like to warmly congratulate this year's winners and their teams, whose passion and dedication is so

inspiring. Europe's heritage is one of our most precious assets. It builds bridges between the past and present,

promotes growth, fosters social inclusion and attracts tourism. But many of these works of art and human

ingenuity, which have conveyed beauty through the centuries, are increasingly fragile. Their survival depends on

long-term investment in preservation and maintenance. I am delighted that our new Creative Europe programme

will continue to support the Prize, as well as many other transnational initiatives, and that cultural heritage will

continue to benefit from substantial EU funding from different sources including the regional funds and research,"

stated Commissioner Vassiliou.

"This year’s achievements demonstrate that, even in challenging economic circumstances, heritage projects can

mobilise talented and passionate people and rally support from public and private sources. Thanks to their skills,

commitment and generosity, numerous historic sites have been revitalised and the lives of so many individuals

have been embellished and enriched. I hope that our partnership with the European Commission will continue to

grow in strength and impact, spreading even wider European excellence in the heritage field,” added Plácido

Domingo.

2014 Award Winners

(listed alphabetically by country)

Category 1 - Conservation

Horta Museum, Brussels, BELGIUM

Home for Cooperation: Educational Centre in the Buffer Zone of Nicosia, CYPRUS

Biblioteca Bardensis, Barth, GERMANY

Basilica Palladiana, Vicenza, ITALY

Teatro Sociale, Bergamo, ITALY

Walser Houses: Preservation of Vernacular Architecture in Alagna Valsesia, ITALY

Hovelsrud Villa, Helgøya Island, Nes på Hedmarken, NORWAY

Historical Route of the Lines of Torres Vedras, Lisbon, PORTUGAL

Dragomirna Church's 17th Century Frescoes, Suceava, ROMANIA

Cooperative Wineries Programme, Catalonia, SPAIN

Historical Landscape of El Sénia’s Ancient Olive Trees, SPAIN

Roman Bridge, Gate of the Bridge, Calahorra Tower and Surrounding Areas, Cordoba, SPAIN

Abbotsford: The Home of Sir Walter Scott, Melrose, UNITED KINGDOM

Category 2 - Research

Roman Vaulted Construction in the Peloponnese, GREECE

Transylvanian Castle Gardens, Budapest, HUNGARY

Van Dyck in Spain, Madrid, SPAIN

Category 3 - Dedicated Service

Gustav Klimt Memorial Society, Vienna, AUSTRIA

Kempens Landscape Association, Putte, BELGIUM

Iubilantes Association, Como, ITALY

Category 4 - Education, Training and Awareness-Raising

Cultural Heritage without Borders’ Regional Restoration Camps, Tirana, ALBANIA

Passage: From a Rusty City to a New Miskolc, HUNGARY

The Coen Case, Hoorn, THE NETHERLANDS

‘Encounters with Heritage’ Radio Programme, Lisbon, PORTUGAL

Shaping 24: Promoting Heritage in Norwich and Ghent, UNITED KINGDOM and BELGIUM

A Europa Nostra Award is also presented to projects from two European countries nottaking part in the EU Culture Programme (2007-13):

Conservation - Agate Rooms in Pushkin, St. Petersburg, RUSSIA

Conservation - Belle Epoque Steamers on Lake Geneva, Lausanne, SWITZERLAND

Research - Church Architecture of the 7th Century in South Caucasus, Moscow, RUSSIA

Background

This year’s winners of the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards join the 360 laureates

recognised by the European Commission and Europa Nostra since 2002. Specialist juries made up of

independent experts from across Europe assess the nominated projects in four categories: conservation;

research; dedicated service; education, training and awareness-raising. All the winners receive a plaque or trophy.

The six Grand Prix winners also receive €10 000 each.

The awards have been supported by the EU Culture Programme, which invested almost €40 million in co-

financing heritage-related projects between 2007 and 2013. Other EU programmes have also provided support: in

the same period, the European Regional Development Fund allocated €6 billion for the protection and

preservation of cultural heritage, development of cultural infrastructure and support for cultural services such as

vocational training, arts and heritage education. The EU Programmes for Research and Technological

Development have provided a further €150 million for cultural heritage since 1998.

The new Creative Europe programme, which has a budget of nearly €1.5 billion over the next seven years (9%

more than previous levels), will continue to support transnational cooperation projects in the heritage field.

As well as its intrinsic value, cultural heritage brings a significant contribution to job creation and growth. Spending

on conservation of cultural heritage by public and private bodies is worth an estimated €5 billion a year. Figures

published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that 40% of worldwide

tourism has a cultural dimension. Cultural heritage is also a key resource for sustainable development and social

cohesion.

Europa Nostra - the Voice of Cultural Heritage in Europe - is a growing citizens’ movement for the safeguarding of

Europe’s cultural and natural heritage. With its vast pan-European network of members (organisations and

individuals), associates and partners, Europa Nostra is a highly influential lobby for cultural heritage. It also

campaigns to save Europe's endangered monuments, sites and landscapes. In 2013, Europa Nostra celebrated

its 50 anniversary.

The 2014 award ceremony in Vienna is part of Europa Nostra's annual European Heritage Congress, which will

be held under the patronage of the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer. The European Commission, its

Representation in Austria, the Austrian Federal Ministry for the Arts and Culture, Stiftung Fürst Liechtenstein, the

Erste Stiftung, and Austrian national public broadcaster ORF are among the partners of the 2014 Congress.

th

INTO - Dates for your diary in MayThe National Trust for Scotland is co-hosting the John Muir Conference in Perth,

Scotland, on 12 and 13 May 2014. This conference (one day of study visits and

one day of sessions in Perth) will appeal particularly to people working in conservation, planning, land use

management and tourism/visitor management. The conference brochure is available on the INTO website and

further information here http://johnmuir100.com/

The second date for your diary, also relating to national parks, is European Day of Parks, which will be celebrated

on 24 May 2014 with the theme ‘Parks for nature. Parks for well-being. Parks for peace’. More information about

this is available on our website.

th th

Global Atlas of environmental conflicts launched inBrussels

The Environmental Justice Organisations, Liabilities and Trade (EJOLT)

project launches today its Global Atlas of Environmental Justice, a visually

attractive and interactive online mapping platform detailing around 1000 environmental conflicts (and growing). It

allows users to search and filter across 100 fields and to browse by commodity, company, country and type of

conflict. With one click you can find a global snapshot of nuclear, waste or water conflicts, or the places where

communities have an issue with a particular mining or chemical company. Click on any point to find the actors and

a conflict description with the outcome and sources. Maps you create using the search and filter can be

shared on your webpage or facebook. Featured maps will focus on issues ranging from fracking to conflicts

over mega-infrastructure projects to maps on violent targeting of activists (and more).

The Atlas is a product of the EU-funded EJOLT project. Over 100 people from 23 universities and environmental

justice organisations in 18 countries plus dozens of independent collaborators from all around the world have

joined forces to create this huge and valuable resource. The project is coordinated by Professor Joan Martinez-

Alier and his team of ecological economists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (ICTA-UAB).

“The Atlas illustrates how ecological conflicts are increasing around the world, driven by material demands fed

primarily by the rich and middle class subsections of the global population,” says Martinez-Alier. “The most

impacted are poor, marginalized and indigenous communities. They usually do not have the political power to

ensure access to environmental justice and health.” Over 2000 different corporations and financial

institutions are involved. This includes many corporate and state actors from developed countries, but with

growing participation from the emerging economies.

While the map highlights disturbing trends, such as continuing corporate impunity for environmental crimes and

the fact that 80% of the cases entail a loss of livelihood, it is also inspiring. Amidst the stories of environmental

devastation, political repression and persecution of activists, many cases of environmental justice victories can be

found. Court cases were won, projects were cancelled and sometimes, the commons were reclaimed. 17% of the

cases in the map are considered environmental justice victories.

The Atlas will make it easier to find information, connect with other groups working on related issues and increase

the visibility of environmental conflicts. It can also be used for teaching and advocacy work. For the moment, the

map is similar to ancient world maps, with good coverage of some areas and blanks spots. The goal now is to

reach out to many new civil society organisations and researchers with specific areas of expertise and invite them

to contribute to expanding the base of knowledge.

A crucial feature of the project and the Atlas is that grassroots movements for environmental justice are

the key for moving towards more just, equitable and less damaging forms of consumption and

production. According to Atlas coordinator Leah Temper “Only once communities stand up and say we will no

longer be polluted, will governments and companies change their behaviour.” Leah Temper will launch the Atlas at

the 19 March Mapping Environmental Justice event in Brussels, which is co-organised by the European

Environmental Bureau and the United Nations Environment Programme’s Liaison Office to the EU Institutions.

Preliminary Consultation on the PlanningApplication Process and Procedures / DevelopmentManagement Guidelines 2007

An Taisce replied to the Planning Section of the Department of the Environment,

Community and Local Government on 14th March 2014

Summary

In recent years the Irish planning system has been brought into disrepute. Corrupt zoning decisions, bad planning

and the link between developers and politicians has brought calamitous consequences. It must be reclaimed with

transparent democratic decision making.

The development management process is an important function of the planning authority. The guidelines should

be cognisant of the Judgment of the High Court in respect of Farrell & Forde v Limerick County Council [2008 No.

1398 J.R]. In this case Mr. Justice McGovern stated:

‘The planning process involves taking into account many considerations which may involve competing claims. The

process exists for the benefit of the community at large and not for sectional interests, whether they be

landowners, private individuals or developers, although there may be cases where these interests coincide’

More than ever the planning system is required to address the major challenges of our time. While accepted that

these guidelines are confined to procedural issues only, the key priority must be to assist a transition to a low-

carbon society and economy and to mitigate the significant risks associated with rising energy costs and promote

climate change adaptation. The statutory planning system, through the regulation of physical development and

land use, has the most critical role to play in facilitating this transition.

Recommendation

The purpose of the guidelines should be updated to reflect a transition to a low-carbon society

and economy and to mitigate the significant risks associated with rising energy costs and

promote climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Since the adoption of the previous guidelines in 2007 a plethora of new long overdue

environmental regulations, policies and strategies have been brought into force which places

strict new legal obligations on the Planning Authority. The compliance of the guidelines with

these new regulations, policies and strategies is required.

The guidelines must insist on compliance with the new methodical and evidence-based

approach to land-use zoning and settlement planning included under the Planning and

Development Act 2010.

The success or otherwise of the forthcoming guidelines can only be judged against verifiable and implementable

criteria which are subject to ongoing monitoring. It is not possible to monitor the effectiveness of the objectives of

the guidelines without the inclusion of quantifiable targets.

Recommendation

The guidelines should include a detailed implementation and monitoring schedule which outlines

the manner in which the guidelines envisages the future advancement of the development

management process.

The Department should appoint a designated implementation officer to oversee the

implementation of the guidelines and ensure compliance with the provisions of the guidelines.

The revised guidelines should also be tested In terms of readability and it should not be presumed the reader is

versed in planning practice. The unnecessary use of technical jargon can make the guidelines very daunting.

Plain English needs to be promoted to allow understanding for readers not from an architectural, construction or

planning background. Cutts (1998) describes plain English as ‘ the writing and setting out of essential information

in a way that gives a cooperative, motivated person a good chance of understanding the document and in the

same sense that the writer meant it to be understood’.

Recommendation

The objective for those preparing the new guidelines should be conciseness, clarity and

simplicity in use of language, and that planning terms be explained in an appending glossary.

The excessive flexibility inherent in the development management process is a key factor in the

long delays experienced in the planning process. This flexibility is evidenced by both vagueness

and by ‘let-out’ clauses which causes interpretation problems for the developer, the Councillors,

the public, and even the officials.

Download full Submission 20140214-DOE-DMG.pdf here

Consultation on the Low Carbon Roadmap for theTransport Sector

An Taisce submission to Department of Transport, Tourism andSport - 07/02/2014

1.0 Issues for Ireland

1.1 National Emissions

EPA data records a 3.5% transport emission decline in 2012 on 2011, resulting from the ‘Biofuels Obligation’ and

lower emission vehicles. However transport accounts for approx. 20% of national emissions and Ireland has one

of the highest per capita emission levels in the EU.

The EU Effort Sharing Directive requires Ireland to meet binding emission reduction targets of 20% on 2005 levels

by 2020 in the non Emissions Trading Sector, including transport. EPA projections establish that transport growth

will result in significant overshoot of the 2020 target.

Much higher annual targets will be required post 2020. Future emissions agreements will also require major

reduction in transboundary shipping and aviation - if the scale action required by climate science is to be

achieved.

Department of Transport policy, Smarter Travel: A Sustainable Transport Future – A New Transport Policy for

Ireland 2009-2020, adopted two key targets for 2020 from 2009 levels:

1. 500,000 more people will take alternative means to commute to work to the extent that the total share of

car commuting will drop from 65% to 45%, and

2. The total kilometres travelled by the car fleet in 2020 will not increase significantly from current levels.

‘Key actions’ including spatial planning, public transport and cycling investment and “institutional arrangements to

deliver the targets” were set out.

The Department of Transport National Cycling Promotion Framework 2009 provided that 10% of commuting trips

be by bicycle by 2020.

The policy is being ignored and these targets are not being achieved:

The National Roads Authority is funding schemes to generate more traffic into urban areas, e.g. the M7

lane additions at Newbridge / Naas;

Local councils and An Bord Pleanála are continuing to permit car based development like the extension to

the Kildare Retail Village and Kerry Group Campus on the N7. In counties such as Mayo and Roscommon,

almost the only housing being granted is exacerbation of ribbon development;

The National Transport Authority is ineffective in pursuing its statutory remit for sustainable transport,

including using its prescribed consultee function on planning applications;

The Department of Education in not properly integrating the funding of new and extended schools with

Smarter Travel measures.

1.2 Biofuels and Electric Vehicle Use

Biofuel and electric vehicle use must factor full transboundary emission resource and land use impact.

Displacement of food producing land and the real emission cycle puts the continued role of biofuels in question,

whether produced within the EU or imported.

In average terms biofuels are now proven to cause more emissions than they save, not to mention spurring land

clearances in lower income areas; please see the second and third notes set out in the annex below. The key

point is that energy savings and efficiency must be accorded priority: these are not counterproductive, whereas a

very high proportion of biofuel is.

Electric vehicles require full evaluation of the resource extraction impact of all material input from batteries and

end of life redundancy. The use of private motorised vehicles needs to be reduced for reasons of curtailing

congestion, obesity and inefficient land use as well as climate and resource consumption.

1.3 Transboundary Aviation and Shipping

Passenger travel between Ireland and Britain is predominantly by air with an unsustainable emission impact. This

dependence is also vulnerable to any future major Icelandic volcanic eruption. Ferries are also of poor emission

standard and lack timetabled connections to the British rail system, or link to the higher speed electrified parts of

the network. The downsides of the rail-sail journey need to be addressed quickly.

Current expansion proposals by the State port companies of Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Galway and Foynes are

based on projected increase in traffic tonnages which would significantly increase transboundary shipping

emissions. This is furthermore based on assumptions of continuing material resource extraction and consumption

which is not compatible with the level of international action required on reducing climate emissions and

biodiversity, or a sustainable resource consumption footprint for a country in the developed world.

For full submission 2014-2-7_DOT-Low CARBON transport.pdf

Consultation on the Draft Rural DevelopmentProgramme for 2014-2020

An Taisce submission to Rural Development Division, Departmentof Agriculture, Food and the Marine 18/02/2014

1.0 Introduction

An Taisce welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on Ireland’s Draft Rural Development Programme

(RDP) for the 2014-2020 period. This submission is made with the understanding that LEADER is being dealt with

through a separate consultation process. An Taisce offers recommendations in support of the goals of the

European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (see 1698/2005: Article 4.1):

Ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and action on climate change;

Achieving a balanced regional development of rural economies and communities, including creating and

maintaining employment;

Fostering the competitiveness of agriculture through sustainability criteria.

For the duration of the new CAP financing period (2014-2020), €313m per year has been allocated to Ireland’s

rural development fund. An Taisce welcomes the Government’s decision to co-fund to the degree of 46.3%, a

decision that will bring the total annual fund to roughly €580m. However, An Taisce also points out that the overall

RDP fund could have been significantly higher had the government chosen co-fund at 50% and transfer 15%

(€180m/year) of Pillar I funds to Pillar II (as it was, nothing was transferred). This transferred 15% would not have

required co-financing from the national exchequer and could have provided a significant boost for rural

development schemes considering the high levels of unemployment in rural Ireland (see Walsh, 2010) and the

proportion of habitats with bad or unfavourable status (51%) (NPWS, 2013a).

The previous RDP did not bring significant improvements to this situation in an Ireland. Indeed, the programme

suffered “due to poor design of prescriptions, inadequate targeting and baseline setting and little or no monitoring

of results” (NPWS, 2013a: 15). The massive reallocation of 80% (€433m) of funds allocated for Natura 2000

areas during the 2007-2013 period is particularly startling in this regard, and has resulted in the National Parks

and Wildlife Service (NPWS) having to step in with their own limited funding. Indeed, the NPWS has direct

responsibility and expertise on agri-environment schemes. However, the Department for Agriculture, Food and the

Marine (DAFM) has given little consideration to the recommendations the NPWS has made (NPWS, 2013a).

This trend needs to change, not least due to the huge value of the areas concerned. For example, Natura 2000

sites cost about €185m to maintain in Ireland each year, yet the value of the ecosystem services provided have

been conservatively estimated at €200-300 billion/year (NPWS, 2013a).

Ireland’s Pillar II funding is lower than the previous 2007-2013 CAP period. Nonetheless, a targeted

implementation of this fund will allow Ireland to improve the relationships between farming practices and

ecosystems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, establish more beneficial conservation measures for Ireland’s

protected habitats, and increase employment and educational opportunities in Ireland’s rural areas.

Action on each of these points will also improve the quality of rural Irish life and counteract the acute effects of

current economic trends. International research organisations and government bodies alike have advocated

targeted schemes that account for farm level differences (see NPWS, 2013a; 2013b); see also McGurn & Moran,

2013; Allen et al., 2012.

Ireland’s RDP should be designed accordingly, providing incentives and supports for low-input agriculture, organic

farming, and the restoration of Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, and other High Nature

Value sites. Low input modes of farming are effective in lowering GHG emissions, reducing farm input

requirements, maintaining biodiversity and will be crucial in ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of

Irish agriculture (see McGurn & Moran, 2013; NPWS, 2013a; 2013b).

An Taisce has recommended in previous submissions to the DAFM that the objectives of Food Harvest 2020

(FH2020) should be reconsidered. Indeed, the environmental assessment that was carried out predicted negative

impacts in terms of water quality, GHG emissions, and biodiversity (see Farrelly, 2014). Yet, government policy

continues to aim for FH2020 expansion targets. It is our understanding that the recommendations made by An

Taisce and other member organisations of the Irish Environmental Pillar were not taken on board1.

Nonetheless, An Taisce intends to offer constructive recommendations on the Draft RDP. It is also worth noting

that agri-environment schemes are not the sole answer to improving the quality of life for the large parts of rural

Ireland that have lagged behind in terms of relative disadvantage, employment and job creation, as well as rural

poverty and social isolation. Peripheral regions, especially in the northwest and north midlands, have seen

dwindling populations and a deficit in services, communications and infrastructure. An Taisce has made a

comprehensive submission in this regard to the Commission on Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA)

4.0 Conclusion

In response to the invitation to identify key challenges and provide evidence, An Taisce’s experience

has led to the conclusion that the conflict between different land uses in rural Ireland will be one of the

main issues for the future. In particular the dispersed settlement pattern makes many of the other

potential forms of development, whether it is renewable energy, tourism or agriculture, difficult to site,

increases costs to rural families and undermines potential for job creation. This will without doubt

impede the progress of any rural development strategy and it is likely that little can be done in the short

or even medium term to unpick this legacy.

In the longer term it should be possible to strengthen the structure of rural towns and villages which will

be essential to underpin the opportunities for rural development, creating a better economic

environment for business who need good quality, affordable infrastructure and for those citizens and

entrepreneurs who may be involved in establishing new business who need a good quality of life with a

range of social amenities only possible where there are sufficient populations.

To summarize the recommendations:

A regeneration strategy for rural Ireland should focus, first and foremost, on the creation of a

vibrant rural society which underpins job creation on a long-term basis – services, quality of life,

infrastructure, sustainable population, age vibrancy, environmental quality etc. If such conditions

are not created any short-term job creation will be ephemeral.

There should be a clear focus on comparative advantage and the sustainable development of

rural natural resources and increased local food production, with particular emphasis on

greening the economy.

Greater cross-sectoral policy development implementation through improved governance

structures and greater and efficient alignment between public investment and spatial planning.

The National Spatial Strategy and the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines must be reviewed

without delay to further restrict the development of housing in the open countryside and to

promote a programme of serviced sites to assist in redirecting the demand for dispersed ‘one

off’ housing from the open countryside into small towns and villages, including through tax

incentives.

A properly constituted house insulation programme should be implemented and initiative is put

in place to promote alternative energy for householders, such as biomass and small scale wind

or hydro is promoted.

Anaerobic digestion of farm wastes should be incentivized to provide gas for heating.

Research into Integrated Constructed Wetlands should be intensified to provide more effective

waste management for rural households and businesses.

A major timetabled and sectorally targeted strategy to enhance local food production for

surrounding catchment areas.

The strategy for outdoor recreation and activities should be reinvigorated and more effectively

implemented.

A programme of cycling and pedestrian routes should be introduced to reduce car dependence

in rural areas and the associated carbon emissions and unpredictable costs

A major public education programme and extra resources for NPWS should be adopted to bring

about better protection of important habitats and species.

Guidelines should be prepared and published on the criteria to assess applications for rural

development to ensure that such projects do not contribute to the economy at the expense of

society and the environment on which we all depend.

In all these aims, community, landowner, public sector and non-governmental organisation partnerships

should be promoted.

Full submission here 2014-2-21_RDP 2014-2020 An Taisce submission.pdf

Consultation on the Wind Energy GuidelinesFocused Review: Draft Statutory Guidelines

An Taisce submission to Wind Submissions, Planning Section, Department of the

Environment, Community and Local Government 21/02/2014

An Taisce welcomes this consultation period on the Wind Energy Guidelines Focused Review and the opportunity

to make a submission with regard to same. The Department proposes the following three changes to the Wind

Energy Development Guidelines (2006). These are as follows:

Noise: The setting of a more stringent absolute noise limit (day and night) of 40 decibels (dB) for future wind

energy developments. This limit is an outdoor limit; in general the reduction of noise levels between the outside of

a dwelling and inside would be approximately 10 decibels.

Separation distance: A mandatory setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for

amenity considerations.

Shadow flicker: A condition be attached to all future planning permissions for wind farms to ensure that there will

be no shadow flicker at any dwelling within ten rotor diameters of a wind turbine. If shadow flicker does occur, the

wind energy developer or operator will be required to take necessary measures, such as turbine shut down for the

period necessary, to eliminate the shadow flicker.

1.0 Introduction

The main aspects holding wind energy back from gaining a higher public acceptance are noise complaints as well

as visual impact and shadow flicker. The proposed revisions to the guidelines on Wind Energy Development, first

published in 2006, show a step in the right direction in making wind energy more acceptable and especially

adaptable to the needs of communities.

2.0 Noise

There are two distinct types of sound sources associated with the operation of wind turbines, namely,

aerodynamic noise caused by turbine blades passing through the air and wind moving around the turbine tower,

and mechanical noise created by the operation of mechanical elements in the nacelle (which is where the

equipment pod where the generator, motors, brakes and hydraulic pumps are located), sometimes called the hub.

A stall turbine is regulated by the stall-effect. From a velocity higher than 15 m/s, the stall reduces the output. A

pitch-regulated turbine on the other hand uses adjustable rotor blades to regulate the speed. Put simply, the pitch-

regulated turbine auto-adjusts to wind speed.

The aerodynamic sound from a stall-regulated turbine continues to increase with wind speed whereas a pitch-

regulated turbine’s sound level generally reaches a maximum at rated power and remains constant, or decreases

slightly as wind speed continues to increase.

Regarding mechanical noise, there are anti-vibration systems being used to minimize the sound being made by

elements within the nacelle (namely, the drive-train). The transformer at the base of the turbine generates some

noise - but is rarely the cause of a complaint because it is not near as loud as the aerodynamic noise. Most recent

wind technologies work with low speed generators and transformers that reduce the sound level.

There are rival perspectives / analyses on the impact of infrasonic noise. According to a recent German study,

wind farms produce the so called infrasonic (<20 Hz), caused by the aerodynamic noise, which is a frequency not

audible or perceptible for most living creatures (Bavarian Ministry of Environment, 2013). However, the British

Medical Journal calls for more study of the issue.

While infrasonic is a natural phenomenon occurring in thunder or surf, many residents have documented legal

complaints arguing that infrasonic caused them to move from their homes.

In animal testing regarding infrasonic noise and guinea pigs, hearing damage was recorded above 133 dB (A).

Observations on humans have shown similar results above an infrasonic level of 140 dB (A) can cause damage.

The limit of 40 dB (A) proposed by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government will apply

to infrasonic and higher frequency noise.

2.1 Daytime Noise

Currently the daytime limit set by the 2006 Guidelines for wind turbine noise is a maximum of 45 dB (A) or 5 dB

(A) above the background level. Again, unrevised, the guidelines state that should the level of background noise

in the surrounding environment be below 30dB (A), the noise level limit for wind turbines will fall in the range of 35

dB (A) to 40 dB (A).

2.2 Night Time Noise

A fixed limit of 43dBA is applied in the guidelines (2006) to wind turbines noise at night.

3.0 Shadow Flicker

Shadow flicker entails a strobe lightning effect inside the home. It depends on the angle of the sun towards a

dwelling and the distance of the turbine. Under the current Wind Energy Planning Guidelines (2006), it is

“recommended that shadow flicker at neighbouring offices and dwellings within 500m should not exceed 30 hours

per year or 30 minutes per day”.

Also, at distances greater than 10 rotor diameters, the potential for shadow flicker is extremely low, and

accordingly, this distance should determine a study area for the purposes of modelling the impact of potential

shadow flicker (van Radecke, 2012) . The revised guidelines state:

If shadow flicker does occur, the wind energy developer or operator will be required to take necessary measures,

such as turbine shutdown for the period necessary, to eliminate the shadow flicker.

An Taisce queries how this will be regulated. While a condition can be placed in a grant of planning permission it

remains unclear what body, or qualified person, will have capacity to verify that shadow flicker is in fact occurring.

4.0 Further Discussion

The 2006 guidelines were established during a time where the average turbine height was considerably lower

than it is today. Turbines being erected currently average about 130 metres in height to the top of the blade and

plans proposed for Midland wind farms suggest a top height of up to 180 metres, again measured to the top of the

blade. These technological changes need to be taken into account to guarantee an appropriate distance between

turbines and dwellings.

Neither the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines nor the proposed revision of 2014 state how the noise limits are

measured. In the 2006 Guidelines the use of a Descriptor is mentioned, being a common noise measurement tool

for street and wind nose. It “should be applied to external locations” as the guidelines (2006) state. Some

distinction in terms of the characterising the area in which the turbines are proposed may be appropriate.

As proposed, the 40 dB(A) daytime limit, would be applied to all wind farm developments, irrespective of

background noise levels and the surrounding kind of environment. This may be low for industrial areas which

already have a high level of background noise. On the other hand, in rural areas the background noise is at a

much lower level.

[1]

Again, some distinction might be made distinguishing rural settlements from individual houses. For example,

under Germany’s guidelines, wind turbines must be twice as far from a rural settlement (800m), compared to an

individual house (400m); these guidelines apply where the hub height of the turbine is more than 70m.

Wind energy is key to Ireland meeting its targets set by the Directive 2009/28/EC with its 20-20-20

requirement by 2020 - 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, 20% improvement in EU’s

energy efficiency by 2020 and 20% of the EU’s energy consumption to be from renewable sources by 2020

. As each individual member state is entitled to set its targets, Ireland did set a 16% minimum of

renewable energies, divided into 40% renewable energy in electricity generation, 10% in transport and

12% in the heating sector. The generation of electricity is envisaged to be mainly covered by wind energy.

While there is insufficient published scientific evidence to link wind turbines with adverse health effects,

international research suggests that sensitivity to wind turbine noise can be heightened by the visibility of

the noise source as well as the unpredictable nature of the noise (as it is directly connected to the velocity

of the wind and the continuation of the sound at night).

The greater the scale and number of wind turbines being built, the more detailed the nature and extent of

environmental impact studies need to be. Below we discuss some suggestions regarding benefits flowing to local

residents which may help offset interferences such as noise, shadow flicker and visual impact.

As technology is enhanced, it will be important to consider the points below:

4.1 Use of feed-in tariff to incentivise low-noise technology

One idea is that feed-in tariffs can, as technology improve, be used to promote turbines with lower noise output

profiles.

4.2 Establish a Noise Map

A suggestion would be to create an extensive noise map covering existing wind farms and monitor planned and

proposed areas for existing background noise etc. This could be done using the already existing Strategic Noise

Map (2012) established by the National Road Authority as it offers the differentiation between day and night times,

as well as the approximate number of people per area examined. The regulations for street noise could be a

guideline in establishing the more extensive noise map.

4.3 Establish a Planning Map

The All-Island Research Observatory offers different maps showing dwellings in Ireland and possible locations for

wind turbines with a set-back of 500m, 1000m, 1500m and 2000m. Several other restrictions have to be taken into

account such as nature-protected areas but it offers a good database in establishing a comprehensive map

regarding locations for wind farms, conditions of the surrounding areas as well as the noise impact, possible grid

connections, surrounding infrastructure, nature protected areas etc.

[2]

[3]

5.0 Economic Opportunities of Higher Levels of Wind Energy

Planning and modelling wind turbines / wind farms locally

Construction by locally established companies

Funding in cooperation with local banks

Business levies, rate and taxes to local communities creating a revenue stream for citizen or communities

investing in wind farms

Creating stable jobs in the maintenance and service of the wind energy plant

Over the last years the Wind energy sector has developed almost independent of economic trends

One of the suggestions An Taisce has already made is a radius-of-benefit dividend (as outlined in our submission

to the Department of Energy regarding energy export). An Taisce is acutely aware of situations where a home lies

under the shadow of turbine but, because its residents enjoy no ownership rights, they receive no income. An

Taisce suggests that government intervention is needed here. One idea is that residents that do not have

ownership rights but do live within a defined radius (which could be linked to turbine height) would obtain some

percentage of the revenue from the turbine (for living within that radius of the turbine base).

An Taisce is also strongly of the view that part of the direct and indirect revenues (monies going directly to

landowners and indirectly to Government in the form of taxes collected) must be set aside to fund the

comprehensive home insulation and enhancement programme so vitally needed.

6.0 Conclusion

With just small shares in hydro, biomass, and solar, wind, and to a lesser extent, wave energy, along with a much

higher efficiency, remain the areas to focus on to deliver a more sustainable environment.

Electricity generated by renewable energy supports and encourages not only a sustainable lifestyle and thinking

but is also gaining a much higher economically importance. The almost endless wind in Ireland is an inexhaustible

source of energy.

The negative impacts by wind energy are far less invasive - and disastrous – than the ones caused by oil drilling

or fracking. The long-term effects caused by wind energy are lower CO2 emissions, less environmental pollution

and more sustainable development. Negative side effects such as noise complaints or visual disturbances can be

mitigated by the regulatory environment, along with a greater division of the benefits, as discussed here.

Long-term and even short-term effects caused by fracking or oil drilling are a permanent destruction of the

environment in the extracting areas, placing the environment in jeopardy should anything go wrong during the

extraction or processing stage, as well as causing an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, etc.

Climate change is a very present threat already and is changing the environment around us. Done right,

renewable energy has the potential to save the planet for this and future generations.

In short, virtually every other source of energy, which can be deployed in Ireland, has a higher carbon footprint

than wind generation; see further:

http://www.vestas.com/Files/Filer/EN/Sustainability/LCA/LCAV90_juni_2006.pdf.

As outlined here the revised Guidelines for Wind Energy Development should strike a fair balance between the

interests of communities, at the same time recognising the importance of renewable energy, such as wind, as a

clean energy for the future of our environment as well as having a positive effect for the economy. An Taisce

hopes that the suggestions offered in this submission will be of assistance in that regard.

Download full submission here 20140217-DOE-WIND.pdf

1. Prof. van Radecke, leading Wind Researcher at the University of applied Sciences, Flensburg, Germany

2. See 2009/28/EC European Commission 2020 package - targets, known as the "20-20-20" targets, set

three key objectives for 2020:

A 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels;

Raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20%;

A 20% improvement in the EU's energy efficiency

3. See “Perception and annoyance due to wind turbine noise – a dose – response relationship”, E. Pederson,

K. Persson Waye , Department of Enviornmental Medicine, Goeteborg Univeritsy, September 2004

Ireland's BioBlitz 2014Sites announced for Ireland's BioBlitz 2014

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is delighted to announce details of Ireland’s

BioBlitz 2014. This year four varied and interesting heritage sites will be participating.

Each has a variety of habitats and extensive semi-natural areas, which should make for interesting recording. The

four participating sites are: Howth Head, Co. Dublin, Glenarm Estate, Co. Antrim, Cong/Clobur Woodland on the

Galway/Mayo border, and Derrynane, Co. Kerry. Visit the BioBlitz website for more information on the event.

As always the Data Centre is looking for volunteers to assist with recording at each of the sites. If you have

expertise in biological recording and are available to help please let us know.

Howth Head – Maria Walsh mwalsh@biodiversityireland.ie

Glenarm Estate – Pauline Campbell pauline.campbell@nmni.com

Cong/Clonbur Woodland – Una Fitzpatrick ufitzpatrick@biodiversityireland.ie

Derrynane – Liam Lysaght llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie

An Taisce on Facebook and TwitterPlease follow us on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com) and Twitter

(@AnTaisce) - we try to get you up to the minute news and views.

Welcome to Bill Doherty (Romany) WildlifePhotographyFantastic shots of an osprey hunting in Scotland, by photographer Bill Doherty

Welcome to my website, where I will show examples of the photographs I capture. I am totally a wildlife

photographer, specialising in wildlife residing in my beautiful county of Northumberland on the north east coast of

the UK. I do from time to time travel to obtain photographs usually into Scotland, never far however from

Northumberland. I am an opportunist photographer, and this helps me get some of the photos I have published on

this site, I hope you like them.... http://www.billdoherty.co.uk/

A tribute to Stella Coffey – partner of Richard Aulerour South Tipperary Council member.This tribute was written by Alan Tozer of Cabragh Wetlands.

The death of our South Tipp friend Stella Coffey last week came as a shock. Stella was a force of nature,

passionate about the environment, and dedicated to challenging our assumptions about the way we live. Three

years ago she and her partner Richard Auler travelled from their Cahir home to give a memorable talk at Cabragh

Wetlands about the simplest of subjects – Soil (or rather ‘soil’ – she wouldn’t have liked that incorrect and

pretentious capital S). All around us, essential for so much of life, a vital ingredient in our food, yet soil is taken for

granted and often derisively dismissed as ‘dirt’, with all its connotations of disease and disgust. Their talk opened

the eyes of their audience to what is around us. Stella argued that we must examine and rebuild our relationship

with our environment.

A key founder-member of the Tipperary Environmental Network (TEN), Stella hoped that through community

cooperation TEN could help to “create and communicate recognition that our planet is finite” (her words).

“Interconnectedness” was a central plank in her view of our relationship both with each other and with the natural

world, of which we of course are a part. Not one to mince her words or suffer fools, Stella was ready to challenge

frail arguments and lack of clarity. She argued for innovation and creativity in educating ourselves about our

environment. Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) were in Stella’s sights, and she hoped that TEN would be a

catalyst for changing our thinking. She will be greatly missed by family, friends and the great range of people who

were influenced and inspired by her care and dynamism. Our sympathies go to Richard.

Clifden ecoCampsite Eliminates Single Use Bottled

Contact UsYour views are important to An Taisce. Please don't hesitate to send us any feedback on content, format, etc. of this newsletter, and if there are any

topics in particular that you'd like to see covered, we'll do our best to get them in.

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The eZine Team

WaterRecognizing the negative environmental & socal impacts of bottled water, Clifden

ecoCampsite has undertaken several efforts to reduce consumption of single use bottled

water on our park.

Prior to arrival visitors are encouraged not to import water to the park as there is an excellent quality supply

available onsite as well as sustainable discounted water bottles for purchase. Clifden ecoCampsite has banned

single use bottled water containers.

The change was inspired by the necessary beach clean ups required every other day, the efforts involved in

recycling the plastic on site & the health implications of drinking water from plastic bottles.

There are numerous environmental concerns with bottled water: the production and consumption of bottled water

consumes energy, pollutes the environment, and contributes to global warming. Producing the plastic bottles uses

energy and emits toxic chemicals. Transporting the bottled water across hundreds or thousands of miles spews

carbon dioxide into the air, complicating our efforts to combat global climate change. And in the end, empty bottles

are piling up in landfills.

Bottled water also has significant social implications for communities. Not only does bottled water contribute to a

global lack of drinking water, it also causes local inaccessibility to water. In privatizing water, bottling corporations

limit access to an essential resource that many believe should always be public.

Clifden eco Beach Camping

ezine@antaisce.org

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Preserving our built and natural heritage for future generations