On June 4, 2026 the European Commission announced it has referred Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive. The directive requires Member States to carry out environmental impact assessments for projects that could have significant negative effects, including peat extraction. Ireland has updated its legislation following a 1999 Court of Justice ruling but has not enforced the assessments on peat cutting projects. The Commission sent formal notice in 2019 and a reasoned opinion in 2020, noting ongoing peat cuts without planning permission or assessment. Since July 2020, Ireland halted peat cutting by Bord Na Móna and began rehabilitation funded by the EU, and the Environmental Protection Agency has taken action against some private operators. However, activity on sites below 50 hectares continues without assessment or local enforcement, prompting the Commission to proceed with the infringement case.
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