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- In 2024, Ireland was compliant with EU Emissions Reduction targets for all five major pollutants: ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter. Consistent implementation of existing national policies is key to meeting 2030 targets.
- Taking the long view, many pollutants have seen significant decreases since the 1990s. Particulate matter, which can have significant impacts on human health, is down by 67 per cent. Pollutants associated with acid rain have also reduced dramatically: sulphur dioxide is down by 96 per cent and nitrogen oxide is down by 67 per cent.
- Ammonia emissions, which arise almost entirely from agriculture, remained within EU limits for the third consecutive year.
- Reductions in sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter were largely driven by lower fossil fuel use in power generation and residential heating.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published its assessment of five key air pollutants which impact air quality, health and the environment for 2024.
The pollutants are:
- ammonia.
- non-methane volatile organic compounds.
- sulphur dioxide.
- nitrogen oxides.
- fine particulate matter.
Agriculture accounts for over 99% of ammonia emissions in Ireland and was previously non-compliant with EU targets in 2020 and 2021. The ongoing adoption of low-emission slurry spreading, in combination with a reduction of dairy cattle and other cattle numbers, has brought ammonia emissions into compliance with the EU Emission Reduction target for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. This reflects the impact of on-farm adoption of a range of good farming practices.
Commenting on the findings Ms Roni Hawe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment said: “Ireland is on track to meet its 2030 EU Emissions Reduction targets for all five major air pollutants. The EPA’s assessment confirms that this progress is delivering clear benefits for air quality, human health and sensitive ecosystems, and shows that targeted policies and practical measures are achieving measurable reductions in emissions.”
She added: “Low-emission slurry spreading alone avoided an estimated 8,526 tonnes of ammonia being released to the atmosphere. That’s seven per cent of the national total, making it one of the most effective actions in reducing national ammonia emissions. Continued and wider adoption of these practices is essential to sustain progress on air quality.”
Beyond ammonia, Ireland is in compliance with EU Emission Reduction targets for the other air pollutants. In 2024, Sulphur dioxide decreased by 4.4 per cent; fine particulate matter by 1.9 per cent; nitrogen oxides by 1.3 per cent and non-methane volatile organic compounds by 1.0 per cent. Less fossil fuel use in power generation and residential heating has been key in reducing these emissions.
Commenting on these findings Dr Tomás Murray, Senior Manager of EPA Emissions Statistics said: “This is good news. We can hit our 2030 air pollutant reduction goals if we stay on course with the National Air Pollution Control Programme. By moving away from fossil fuels to generate our electricity and continued adoption of a range of good farming practices, we aren’t just achieving targets but also actively protecting our health and our environment.”
For further details on these figures, see the EPA report Ireland’s Air Pollutant Emissions: Trends and Outlook on the EPA website HERE.
A recent farmers’ protest and staged sit-in at Bord Bia’s headquarters in Dublin has cost the taxpayer an estimated €220,000, according to records released under Freedom of Information.
The then issue was about Brazilian beef imports and Bord Bia leadership concerns which was pushed into the spotlight to became a major national debate.
The demonstration, organised by members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), began as a rolling 24-hour protest before escalating into an “illegal sit-in,” causing major disruption to the agency’s operations.
At its peak, Bord Bia was spending over €30,000 per week dealing with the situation. Costs were driven by the need for additional security, legal services, alternative meeting arrangements, and media-related expenses.
Because Bord Bia does not have security on site, private firms had to be urgently hired due to concerns around staff safety and access to the building. Staff were instructed to work remotely, while meetings and client engagements were cancelled, postponed, or relocated.
Breakdown of Key Costs:
- €61,500 paid to Integrity Security, with a further €16,700 later.
- An estimated €56,000 allocated for Bidvest Group services.
- Over €9,000 in legal fees.
- Nearly €35,000 on advertising and media.
- Around €2,600 for external meeting rooms.
- €1,250 to facilitate a board meeting at another location.
Bord Bia stated that the situation escalated rapidly and posed a “material risk” to staff safety, requiring continuous monitoring and restricted access to the building.
Although not all invoices had been finalised, the agency confirmed total costs are expected to reach approximately €220,000 including VAT, once all accounts are settled.
Outcome of the Protest.
The protest ultimately led to an agreement to carry out an independent governance review of Bord Bia, which was the basis for ending the demonstration.
However, the farmers’ central demand, which was the removal of Chairperson Mr Larry Murrin, was not achieved, as he remained in his position with government backing.
As part of the compromise, the protest was stood down after several weeks while a review of Bord Bia’s governance was commissioned. The chairman agreed to step back from chairing board meetings during the review, but did not resign.
Minister For Justice, Home Affairs & Migration Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD has stated in a press release issued at 6:28pm this evening that, quote:
“Over the past four days An Garda Síochána has engaged extensively with protestors seeking to allow access to critical sites and ensure certain trucks containing fuel, medicine and animal feed were allowed pass through blockades.
Despite the increasingly difficult situation facing people across the country and requests from Government to end the blocking of critical infrastructure, the blockades continued. This is unacceptable.
While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our Republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner.
An Garda Síochána has commenced operations to allow critical infrastructure to operate, so that people have access to fuel.
I will continue to engage with the Garda Commissioner and my colleagues in Government as these operations continue.
I want to thank the Gardaí and their colleagues from the Defence Forces, for carrying out these difficult duties in such a professional manner.”
We now understand that An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin has convened a Cabinet meeting for tomorrow where an update on ongoing fuel crisis talks, undertaken between ministers and sectoral representatives will be given.
However, the Government has stated that nothing will be announced until protesters end their blockades.
A large-scale national protest concerning fuel costs is set to take place on Tuesday morning, with participants expected to mobilise from early hours across multiple regions, including Tipperary.
Organisers have confirmed that convoys will begin departing from 6:00 a.m., converging on key towns and cities nationwide. Demonstrations are also expected at various locations throughout Tipperary, as part of the coordinated action. The protest aims to call for a further reduction in excise duty on fuel, as well as the removal of the carbon tax, which organisers argue is placing significant strain on households and businesses.
Participants involved in the protest have expressed serious concerns about the current economic climate. They warn that rising fuel costs are contributing to increasing financial pressure across sectors, with some suggesting that urgent action is needed to prevent wider economic instability.
Law enforcement authorities have been notified in advance of the planned routes and assembly points, including those in Tipperary. Traffic disruptions are expected in several areas, and the public is advised to plan journeys accordingly.
Government sources have indicated that, at present, there is no immediate concern regarding fuel supply shortages. However, officials have acknowledged that the situation remains fluid, particularly in light of ongoing developments affecting global energy infrastructure.
Calls have been made for urgent attention to the energy crisis, with growing pressure for swift and coordinated action to address rising costs and their impact on citizens.
Further updates are expected as the situation develops.
As unsettled conditions develop, localized wind impacts expected across Tipperary.
Met Éireann’s latest forecast indicates a markedly unsettled and breezy day across County Tipperary, with conditions varying locally between Clonmel, Thurles, and Nenagh as a band of rain clears and strong, gusty winds develop through the afternoon and evening.
Overview – Tipperary Today
According to Met Éireann, the day will begin wet and overcast, with rain clearing eastwards, followed by sunny spells and scattered showers. Winds will increase from the south to southwest, becoming fresh to strong and gusty, before veering westerly later.
Local Breakdown.
Thurles (Mid Tipperary) – Early conditions: Rain clearing around midday.
Afternoon – evening: Frequent showers with sunny intervals.
Wind: Noticeably gusty, especially in open areas.
Key risk: Rapid changes in conditions, calm spells followed by sharp gusts. Thurles sits in a transition zone, experiencing both the clearing rain and strengthening winds.
Clonmel (South Tipperary) – Early conditions: Persistent morning rain, clearing early afternoon
Afternoon: Brighter spells with showers.
Wind: Strong and gusty, but somewhat moderated by more sheltered inland terrain
Key risk: Sudden squally showers bringing brief bursts of strong wind. Clonmel is likely to see more rain early, but slightly less exposed wind than northern areas.
Nenagh (North Tipperary) – Early conditions: Rain clearing earlier than the south.
Afternoon – evening: More persistent showers.
Wind: Strongest inland gusts across the county, due to more exposure.
Key risk: Blustery westerly winds and reduced visibility in showers. Nenagh is expected to feel the strongest wind impacts locally, particularly later in the day.
Peak Impact Window Timing: Late afternoon through evening.
Conditions: Strong, gusty winds Heavy, fast-moving showers, rapid shifts between bright and squally conditions.
Met Éireann highlights that such a pattern brings “scattered showers, some heavy… with gusty winds”, typical of an unstable Atlantic airflow.
Key Risks Across Tipperary:
Difficult driving conditions on exposed routes. Sudden strong gusts, especially during showers. Reduced visibility in heavy bursts of rain. Localised surface water on roads.
Summary: Morning: Wet across all areas. Afternoon: Improving but increasingly windy. Evening: Most disruptive period with strong gusts and showers.
Local variation:
Thurles: Mixed and changeable.
Clonmel: Wetter earlier, slightly more sheltered.
Nenagh: Windiest and most exposed.
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