News & Events

Do we need a legal right to a healthy environment? Proposals for the European Convention on Human Rights.

The new court would be less formal than regular courts, and would be able to deal with disputes between neighbours over environmental matters, water pollution, wildlife offences, hedge cutting, or habitat destruction, at a much lower legal cost for all concerned.

Cliona Kimber: ‘Despite this vast body of law the environment is still routinely destroyed and despoiled.’

Ireland should have a dedicated environmental court along the lines of the Workplace Relations Commission or the Labour Court, experts will tell the Climate Bar Association’s inaugural symposium.

Cultural factors such as reluctance to confront neighbours, a lack of legal knowledge, and cumbersome procedures are just some of the barriers when it comes to enforcing environmental law in Ireland, research has shown.