Ireland Faces EU Court Action Over Peat Cutting Enforcement And Why It Matters for Our Bogs.
The European Commission has referred Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union over what it says is a failure to properly enforce EU environmental rules on peat cutting.
The case centres on Ireland’s obligations under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, which requires projects likely to have significant environmental effects; including peat extraction, to be assessed before they proceed.
According to the Commission, there is still “significant peat cutting activity” taking place without planning permission or environmental impact assessment, particularly on sites under 50 hectares. While Ireland has made legislative changes over the years, Brussels says those changes have not been matched by effective enforcement on the ground.
The issue is not new. It dates back to EU environmental rules first introduced in 1985, with Ireland previously brought before the European Court of Justice in the late 1990s. Although Irish laws were later amended, the Commission says follow-up enforcement remained inadequate.
Since 2020, Ireland has taken major steps to halt peat cutting by Bord na Móna, and rehabilitation of former industrial bog sites is now underway, with support from EU recovery funding. The Environmental Protection Agency has also pursued enforcement against private commercial operators on sites over 50 hectares, leading some operators to cease activity. However, the Commission says illegal or unauthorised peat cutting continues, and that local-level enforcement has not been sufficient.
This issue is also relevant to Co. Tipperary, where protected raised bog habitats form part of the county’s natural heritage. Sites such as Kilcarren-Firville Bog highlight the importance of safeguarding peatlands from extraction, drainage and habitat damage.
It is also worth noting the political sensitivity of this issue. Ireland currently has public representatives in both Leinster House and the European Parliament whose political careers were strongly shaped by the turf-cutting and bog-rights campaigns. Mr Michael Fitzmaurice TD, now a Roscommon–Galway TD, was previously chairperson of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, while Mr Luke “Ming” Flanagan MEP has long been associated with defending traditional turf-cutting rights in rural Ireland. Their continued presence in national and European politics shows how deeply this issue remains rooted in rural communities, livelihoods, tradition, conservation, and EU environmental law.
Peatlands are more than traditional landscapes. They store carbon, support biodiversity, help regulate water, and form part of Ireland’s environmental identity. The EU court referral is therefore not just a legal matter — it is a reminder that protecting bogs requires clear rules, strong enforcement, and real action on the ground.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its greenhouse gas emission projections for the period 2025-2055.
Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions could achieve a reduction of up to 25% by 2030, compared to a national target of 51%, with full implementation of a wide range of policies and plans across all sectors.
Ireland will be close to meeting the first carbon budget, but nearly all sectors are on track to exceed their sectoral emissions ceilings for the second carbon budget by 2030.
Ireland is projected to exceed its EU Effort Sharing Regulation target of 42% reduction by 2030. EPA projects a maximum reduction of 23%.
With less than four years left to 2030, there must be a strong focus on implementation of policies and measures to meet climate targets which will deliver wide-ranging benefits from environmental protection, supporting public health and wellbeing and reducing Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels.
EPA analysis shows that Ireland’s planned climate policies and measures could deliver reductions of up to 25% of emissions by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. Assessment of the latest information provided by Governmental bodies and sector representatives indicates that the gap to target is widening in some sectors of the economy, while narrowing in others.
Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions are projected to be close to meeting the first Carbon Budget (2021-2025) of 295 Mt CO2eq. The second budget is projected to be exceeded by a significant margin of 53 to 82 Mt CO2eq.
Transport, Industry and the Buildings (Commercial and Public) sectors are projected to be the furthest from achieving their sectoral emission ceilings in 2030. Agriculture emissions are projected to reduce by up to 19%.
Dr Eimear Cotter, EPA Director General, said: “The EPA’s projections show that the current rate of delivery of the Climate Action Plan and associated policies could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 – only half of the reductions needed. While greenhouse gas emissions are declining, European and national emission reduction targets are projected to be missed. There must be a renewed focus on delivering the actions to meet Ireland’s climate targets which will be a significant challenge given the short timeframe to 2030.”
Dr Cotter added: “Meeting these targets will deliver multiple benefits. These include reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels in electricity, transport and heating and strengthening national energy security and resilience. Achieving these emission reductions will also improve public health, provide green employment and protect our environment. Overall, these trends demonstrate that progress is achievable but accelerating delivery is critical. Renewable energy is now expected to provide nearly 60% of Ireland’s electricity by 2030. It is imperative given the increasing demand for electricity across several sectors, that renewables are delivered at the pace and scale required to meet this demand.”
Agriculture. Depending on the level of implementation of measures outlined in Government policies and plans, total emissions from the Agriculture sector will decrease between 4% and 19% over the period of 2018 to 2030. Changes in nitrogen fertiliser usage, switching to different fertilisers and lower anticipated livestock numbers contribute to projected emissions savings. A direct comparison of the Agriculture sector against its absolute Sectoral Emission Ceiling is no longer possible given recent scientific updates to baseline historical agriculture emissions.
Transport. Emissions from Transport are projected to reduce by up to 28% over the period 2018 to 2030, if the measures set out in plans and policies are implemented. These include at least 751,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030, increased biofuel blend rates and measures to support more sustainable transport.
Residential Emissions. Emissions from fuel combustion for home and hot water heating are projected to decrease by up to 18% by 2030. Lower uptake of home energy improvement measures, including planned heat pump installation in existing dwellings, has lowered predictions for emissions savings by 2030.
Industry. Fuel combustion in manufacturing is the primary source of emissions in this sector; emissions from mineral, chemical and metal industries contribute the next largest portion. Emissions from this sector are projected to reduce by 12% over the period 2018 to 2030.
Energy. Continued rollout of renewable electricity generation to provide 52% – 59% of Ireland’s electricity by 2030 as well as increased importation of electricity from interconnectors, are contributing to reductions in Ireland’s emissions. However, delayed delivery of planned renewable energy projects such as offshore wind have lowered potential emissions savings by 2030.
Land use. Emissions from this sector are projected to increase between 4% to 72% over the period of 2018 to 2030 as Irish forestry reaches harvesting age, and shifts from being a carbon sink to a source of emissions. Planned policies and measures for the sector, such as increased afforestation, water table management on agricultural organic soils and peatland rehabilitation are projected to reduce the extent of the emissions increase.
Commenting, Dr Conor Quinlan, Programme Manager said: “The shortfall to our 2030 targets is narrowing in some sectors, for example emissions in the Transport sector are now projected to reduce by up to 28%. Encouragingly, projections for electric vehicle uptake has improved, reflecting growing confidence in the transition to cleaner transport. In contrast, the gap is widening in others such as the Residential sector which is projected now to reduce by up to 18%. It is imperative that ambition and action is maintained across all sectors if we are to meet our targets and realise the benefits of decarbonisation for our society.”
The Irish Government has launched a major upgrade of the eGates system at Dublin Airport, strengthening the country’s border management capability while improving the arrivals experience for millions of passengers.
The project follows a competitive public procurement process managed through the Office of Government Procurement’s eTenders system. A contract was awarded to Vision Box / Amadeus, leading to the installation of 25 new and upgraded eGates across Dublin Airport.
The upgraded technology is designed to support faster, safer and more efficient passenger processing at Ireland’s busiest airport. New features include enhanced facial comparison technology, stronger impostor detection measures, a two-step verification process and ID card reader functionality for eligible passengers from participating countries.
These improvements are expected to help reduce pressure at immigration control points while maintaining robust security checks. Passengers who require further examination will continue to be referred to immigration officers, ensuring that automated systems work alongside existing border control procedures rather than replacing them.
The investment comes at a time of continued growth in passenger traffic. According to the Government, 6.3 million passengers used eGates in 2025, and this number is expected to rise following the introduction of the upgraded facilities. Dublin Airport also welcomed more than 18 million arriving passengers last year, underlining the need for modern infrastructure that can keep pace with increasing demand.
Minister Colm Brophy said the new system brings important operational and security benefits, including improved verification processes and the ability for eligible passengers to use ID cards. The Government says the upgraded eGates will help airport staff manage higher passenger volumes safely and efficiently while continuing to uphold strong border security standards.
This modernisation reflects Ireland’s wider commitment to improving border management, supporting international connectivity and strengthening the passenger experience at a key national gateway. With tourism, business travel and international links continuing to grow, the upgraded eGates represent an important step in ensuring Dublin Airport remains efficient, secure and ready for future demand.
The launch marks a practical investment in Ireland’s aviation and immigration infrastructure, helping to deliver smoother arrivals for passengers while protecting the integrity of the State’s border systems.
The Irish Government has confirmed that a charter flight removal operation, involving 34 EU nationals, has been completed.
The cost of providing the aircraft for this operation was €184,465excluding VAT. Charter flight services are provided by Air Partner Ltd under a contract awarded in November 2024, following an open and competitive procurement process.
The group, made up of 22 Polish nationals and 12 Lithuanian nationals, were removed from the State on grounds of criminality. All 34 individuals were men, ranging in age from their 20s to their 60s, and had received custodial sentences for various criminal offences.
Removal Orders were enforced under the Free Movement Directive, with re-entry bans of up to 10 years imposed in order to prevent their return to Ireland.
The charter flight departed Dublin Airport today, Sunday 24th May 2026. It landed first in Warsaw, Poland, at approximately 3:45pm Irish time, before continuing to Vilnius, Lithuania, where it arrived at approximately 5:50pm Irish time.
This latest operation brings the total number of people removed under the Free Movement Directive in 2026 to 88. By comparison, 56 individuals were removed under the Directive during all of 2025.
The operation was carried out in close cooperation with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service. Garda personnel, medical staff, interpreters and a human rights observer accompanied those removed on the flight.
Including this operation, three charter flights have taken place so far in 2026, resulting in the removal of 130 people from the State. Of these, 67 were EU citizens removed on grounds of criminality.
Under Irish and EU law, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have the right to move and reside freely across member states. However, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration may issue removal and exclusion orders where an individual is deemed to pose a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to public policy, public security or public health.
Thurles Quarter-Mile Obstacle Course: Where Bollards Go To Die & Traffic Lights Go To Retire.
In a town famous for heritage, history and sturdy stonework, it is reassuring to see that the local Municipal District Council is doing its best to add a modern attraction; a quarter-mile stretch of road furniture carnage.
Weigh, Hey and Up She Risesfor the second time in 6 weeks.
Above we have the full civic experience. Silver bollards, nobly installed to protect pedestrians, are flattened by vehicles, replaced lovingly back into the exact same spot, and then, in a plot twist visible from space, flattened again. One might call it maintenance. Others might call it a subscription service for bollards.
Pedestrian lights on sabbatical.
Meanwhile, two pedestrian crossings, at Cathedral Street and Parnell Street, have been non-functional for over six weeks after being struck by high sided vehicles. Six weeks is a long time in traffic-light years. By now, those lights are not just broken; they are on sabbatical. Perhaps they are taking time out to reflect on their career choices, or waiting for a council committee to confirm that pedestrians do, in fact, still exist in Thurles.
Cork is that way… or is it!
The road signs are putting in an equally spirited performance, (See above). Some are totally missing, (Kickham Street), some are pointing the wrong way, and others seem to have adopted a more philosophical approach to navigation: “Cork is that way… probably.” A driver looking for Cashel, Cork, the Horse and Jockey, or basic municipal competence may need not a map, but a medium.
All of this is squeezed into a stretch of roughly a quarter of a mile (402 metres); a compact showcase of avoidable repairs, repeat damage and public money being sent out to do laps. The council’s own roads services information says local authorities deal with road surface maintenance and road markings, while road signs are listed among roads and transport services provided and maintained by local authorities. The relevant Thurles Municipal District office also lists roads contact arrangements, including an out-of-hours roads number.
Which makes the current scene all the more impressive. It is not neglect in one location. It is neglect with choreography. Bollard down, bollard up, bollard down again. Crossing broken, still broken, somehow even more broken. Sign missing, sign twisted, sign auditioning for interpretive dance.
Perhaps there is a master plan. Perhaps the district is trialling a new “guess-your-own-junction” traffic system. Perhaps the bollards are part of a renewable metal initiative: install, destroy, invoice, repeat. Perhaps the non-working crossings are intended to encourage eye contact between pedestrians and motorists, in the same way cliff edges encourage balance.
But to the ordinary resident, pedestrian, driver, parent, visitor or ratepayer, it looks rather simpler: a dangerous, shabby and expensive mess being allowed to continue in plain sight.
Thurles deserves better than road safety by “shrug”. It deserves crossings that work, signs that point where they are meant to, and bollards that are not repeatedly sacrificed like shiny stainless-steel offerings to the gods of poor planning.
At this stage, the council should either fix the problem properly or install a tourist information plaque:
“Welcome to Thurles Municipal Money-Go-Round: Please mind the bollards. They won’t be here long.”
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