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Court of Appeal refers Food Vision 2030 to European Court of Justice
James Hanly
The Friends of the Irish Environment claims that the strategy was legally required to undergo both of these assessments and that the assessments conducted were deficient.
19 March 2025 Gardening
What’s hot and what’s not in garden design this year
Celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin's take on the top gardening trends for the summer ahead, writes Deirdre Verney.
16 March 2025 Forestry
Court of Appeal directs farmer's case over SAC land to High Court
The farmer is now seeking damages for alleged loss and damage caused to him by the SAC designation, mainly based on the profits he would allegedly have earned had he been permitted to plant forestry.
State pays €2,020/ac for over 600ac of Galway land
Minister of State for nature, heritage and biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan announced that this purchase will go towards the significant expansion of the Connemara National Park.
12 March 2025 News
Applications open hare’s corner biodiversity initiative
The hare’s corner initiative, run by Burrenbeo Trust in conjunction with Offaly Biodiversity Office, is open for applications for landowners in Offaly, Limerick, Galway, Carlow, Sligo and Meath.
‘Significant’ 615ac expansion at Connemara National Park announced
This land purchase represents the most significant addition to the park since it was first opened to the public in 1980.
6 March 2025 News
Birds spotted at ACRES wader scrape within a week
The ACRES Breifne CP zone was set up on Seamus Cornyn's farm in Drumshanbo with the aim of providing optimal feeding habitat for species such as snipe, lapwing, redshank, and curlew.
Minister reminds farmers of upcoming hedge-cutting restriction
Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 the cutting, grubbing, burning or other destruction of 'vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch' in this time frame is prohibited.
26 February 2025 News
Editorial: rules tighten on peat soils
While the rules on the face of it for some don’t look too onerous, the very existence of this ‘designation’ under GAEC 2 draws a line in the sand.
12 February 2025 Viewpoints
Investigations under way after fire at Barley Cove
The National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Housing has confirmed it is investigating a fire on Sunday evening 9 February on the Mizen Head Peninsula.
12 February 2025 News
IFI urges farmers to spread slurry carefully near water
Livestock manure, organic fertilisers, silage effluent and soiled water from agricultural practices are all considered to be highly damaging substances that cause severe water quality issues.
29 January 2025 News
Tenders sought for Kildare wetlands restoration
The team is tasked with creating a restoration plan for a calcareous fen and associated habitats at Pollardstown Fen SAC with the aim of implementing measures an monitoring.