Transboundary procedural environmental rights & planning processes on the island of ireland
Publications: Environmental Democracy
In this submission, EJNI highlights how recent changes to planning law in Ireland (the Planning Act 2024) and the further proposals in the Civil Reform Bill 2025, fundamentally reshape the nature of public body accountability in Ireland. They critically undermine the foundation of transboundary environmental cooperation on the island of Ireland by creating massive differences in the laws of both jurisdictions, which is the “level playing field” of shared rights, legal and regulatory context mandated by the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement 1998. These changes virtually remove the ability of the public to hold public bodies to account through the courts when they act illegally. Coming at a time when environmental indicators in both jurisdictions are in freefall, and public services more broadly are in crisis, these changes strike a fatal blow to those who would prevent the environmental degradation of the island of Ireland, and the loss of our shared environmental heritage.
Download this document:
Share this publication:
Join our mailing list to receive the EJNI newsletter: your first look at the latest events, research and publications from EJNI and the environmental justice sector.