Fintan Kelly

Grief, anger and lack of trust expressed in community meetings on Nature Restoration Plan Plan must have clear and enforceable targets, says advisory committee

A step towards Ireland's first Nature Restoration Plan - communities have their say on what must be done
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

I'm all in favour of community based solutions particularly when it comes to something as contentious as cessation to turf cutting. The big question remains what are people transitioning too and I think we need leadership from the State there.

There is a hard stop of sorts in that on designated bogs turf cutting is illegal & turf cutters are being either compensated/ facilitated through relocation between or within bogs. Some illegal cutting continues but this is within the context of an active EU infringement case & potential conviction

Is there a transition going on here, it just sounds like the inevitable hard stop on turf cutting has been delayed for a few people on one area of bog?
Carberry Bog is an NHA so I'd image any turf cutting is based on the process thats in place in other bogs. I think the State deserves some credit

When talking about bogs its critical to factor that bogs function over millennia. Over longer timescales the carbon sequestration of bog cancels out the methane emissions + delivers a multitude of other ecosystem services. Destroying a bog eliminates the bogs superior C storage/sequestration

Govt Must Suspend Carbon Tax Immediately as Energy Costs Soar - Irish Farmers' Association IFA President Francie Gorman has called on the Minister for Finance Simon Harris to immediately suspend carbon tax due to the daily escalating energy costs for farmers, agricultural contractors and th...

The Carbon Tax is contantly under attack, yet excise duties and VAT make up a larger share of the taxes on petrol and diesel. Farmers, who are among those most affected by climate breakdown, should be the loudest voice calling for climate action.
www.ifa.ie/farm-sectors...

Costa Rica gets back to nature after decades of deforestation Paying farmers to swap cattle for conservation has helped sway the balance in biodiversity’s favour

A powerful piece by John Gibbons on Costa Rica’s green revolution. The habitats in Central America differ from our own, but the challenges and solutions, as everywhere, begin and end with people. With real leadership, we too can restore nature.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/....

Almost 100 jobs at risk as North Cork Creameries stops processing Staff at North Cork Creameries have been informed that their jobs at the plant are at risk, with almost 100 jobs to be impacted.

All business owners have a responsibility to their staff, clients and community to ensure they are operating within the law. It's a tragedy that some businesses behave as if they have the right to pollute with impunity. share.google/G8yR2OmIqpl4...

The EP’s envi committee just voted to maintain a standalone LIFE asking for €6.4 billion

Well done

Now the EC should cissue an emended MFF proposal that preserves this crucial tool, both for adressing the biodiversity crisis and to enable local level constructive cooperation between stakehonders

Poor climate choices puts a fair transition for Irish dairy and beef at risk Ireland is finalizing its climate protection targets to the year 2040.

Early, deep, and sustained cuts to its agricultural methane, are critical to Ireland's efforts to cut GHG emissions.

Rather than face that challenge head on, the government is considering moving the goal posts.

Worth a read 👉 www.iatp.org/poor-climate...

Consistent leadership from PM Pedro Sánchez. The world should unite around him and work to isolate the U.S. as a dangerous rogue state.

Apparently Coillte have informed agencies that they will not be moving forward with the Portumna Forest Park Masterplan. Turning an important public woodland into holiday homes is inappropriate commercialisation at a time when we need community led nature restoration in public forests

Cycling in Dublin rises 50% as most residents back more bike lanes Residents of Ireland’s five main cities want more space for cyclists, even at the expense of cars

"The vast majority of residents across the State’s five main cities want increased investment in cycling infrastructure, even when that results in less road space for cars"
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There is and that's why we need a clear strategy from government to unlock the potential of the National Parks, Coillte and Bord na Mona lands. This kind of project could easily be replicated by outher local authorities.

Monaghan Council launches major rewilding project at historic Elliott’s Farm The project will be formally launched on Wednesday, March 4 at 11am, with a public hedge‑planting demonstration planned for attendees.

Monaghan County Council’s use of public land as the centre of a community‑led meadow restoration project is exactly the kind of initiative that should be rolled out across the country through Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan.
share.google/2ODVtuTFFl0S...

The early cut of my small meadow has been a spring ritual for around 20 years. Pulled out loads of scutch grass to open up the soil, reduce competition & nutrients & give the herbaceous wildflowers space to emerge & flower this season. Hens are more faithful companions than dogs for this work.

European Commission brings Mercosur trade deal into force without MEP sign off Decision to provisionally apply EU-Mercosur deal without MEPs sign off draws backlash from farmers

Politicians who have no respect for democracy have no business participating in it.
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Supermac’s boss Pat McDonagh unable to block costs protection for environmental group Supermac’s owner Pat McDonagh has been unsuccessful in his bid to stop an environmental group from getting costs protection for a lawsuit challenging the connection of a multi-million euro motorway pl...

Pat McDonagh is a cowboy and forgive me good people of Galway but I'll be steering clear of Supermas from now on.
m.independent.ie/irish-news/c...

Congrats Eoghan

Nature abhours a vacuum and fills none faster than a pond.

Consecutive Ministers for Nature who get it 🌱

Noonan helped get the NRL across the line. Now O'Sullivan has the tougher job: delivering a plan that turns ambition into action

Real progress will need leadership across Cabinet & funding for farmers & public land www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/fa...

🚨𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

The European Commission just responded to a major finding from the European Ombudsman, the EU official who investigates complaints when EU institutions fail to follow the rules.

Good for the land, but what about the farmer? How Agri-Environment Schemes impact mental health in France and Ireland Trinity research shows that depending on how schemes are designed and delivered, well-being impacts can be positive or negative. Time spent in nature and peer discussion groups are key to fostering po...

Research in Ireland & France has shown that Agri-environmental schemes can improve farmers mental wellbeing through a sense of pride in environmental improvements & peer support.
Key drawbacks included paperwork & delayed payments, both of which can be improved
medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02...

Cooldross Nature Reserve is a great example of the kind of nature restoration projects that should be delivered by Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan. Targeted conservation management & habitat restoration by the NPWS have increased Lapwing from 2 breeding pairs in 2017 to 77 in 2024 #RestoreNature

Climate Changemakers: Three key ingredients to boost nature restoration in Ireland Nature in Ireland needs targeted support to speed up its recovery from decades of degradation, says Fintan Kelly, senior land use officer with the Irish Environmental Network (IEN).

Three key ingredients to boost nature restoration in Ireland:

Political will, funding and a strong plan for public land will all help ensure meaningful progress on restoring nature in Ireland
#RestoreNature
m.independent.ie/life/climate...

Wouldn't it be great if millionaires investment portfolio was about purchasing and protecting sites for nature instead of stocks.

'It’s a piece of heaven, isn’t it?': A West Cork rainforest and the mission to rewild it A year before his high-profile purchase of The Park Hotel in Kenmare, Bryan Meehan quietly became the owner of a West Cork rainforest.

The life cycle of an oak continues long after it dies. Its form is lost, but its energy & influence flow through time. The same is true of a good environmentalist, like the late Andrew St Ledger, whose influence can still be felt in the people & places he touched
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‘It won’t take much rain to cause flooding,’ Met Éireann warns as 18 counties remain on alert { "themeId": "lct_64772ae4d1d7dec0c5b716ac", "clientId": "64772ae4d1d7dec0c5b716af", "liveblogId": "69955b24330359c28974ae90"}

After over a month of constant storms, the majority of Ireland is under a flood warning.
We are living in a new reality. Instead of rising to the challenge, our elected representatives are busy dismantling environmental ambition. Our democratic institutions are failing.
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Our health and future are being traded for profit ❌

Polluters & their political allies are dismantling Europe's environmental laws.

200,000+ people have said #HandsOffNature in less than 2 weeks! @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @jessikaroswall.ec.europa.eu
www.environmentalpillar.ie/hands-off-na...

“I have discovered that I also live in creation’s dawn; the morning stars still sing together, and the world, not yet half made, becomes more beautiful every day” - John Muir