Ireland has been found guilty of breaching laws to protect nature at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
The State was told in 2004 they had six years to designate 423 Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive.
But the court found the government failed to provide legal protection for 217 of the sites and “define detailed site-specific conservation objectives” for 140.
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The case was brought to court by the European Commission in July 2021 after two-decades pressing Ireland to set the necessary conservation objectives for wild flora and fauna.
Ireland will have to cover its own court costs and those of the European Commission and could face fines.
The Irish Wildlife Trust says the findings are damning, adding: “This ruling comes as no surprise to anyone following the deterioration of our natural environment and has consequences which are as devastating as they are far-reaching, going well beyond any threat of fines that may or may not transpire.”
They acknowledged the efforts of the current government to address the structural failings but without changing we way we use our land and seas, we will continue to fail to protect wildlife, flora, our waterways and land.
IWT campaign officer, Pádraic Fogarty, said: “Despite some positive initiatives we are not seeing the changes where it matters. We have whole sectors whose ecological footprints are out of control, particularly agriculture but also forestry, fishing and peat extraction.
“We have the solutions to address these issues in a way that is fair to people but the influence of these sectors has captured public policy to a degree that the public interest is set aside.
“The resistance shown by many politicians to the Nature Restoration Law is a demonstration of just how far this capture of public policy has developed.
“That must be addressed if we are to get a handle on this crisis.”
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said: “I am studying the judgement carefully with my colleagues in the National Parks and Wildlife Service and in consultation with the Attorney General, and do not propose to comment in detail immediately, other than to say that we recognise the importance and the significance of the judgement and the findings of non-compliance with the Habitats Directive.
“It is important to note that the Court’s findings refer to the position in January 2019. This Government has made very considerable progress in recent years: we are transforming and renewing the National Parks and Wildlife Service and have created a dedicated Directorate to lead on the implementation of conservation measures across all of Ireland’s Natura 2000 sites.
“I am confident that we will respond to this judgement swiftly with positive and constructive actions in order to bring Ireland into full compliance.”
