Environmental Pillar

Lobbying Organisation Environmental Pillar

Date published 16 Jan, 2018

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Environment

Period 1 Sep, 2017 to 31 Dec, 2017

Specific Details Public Participation in Decision-making re Brexit

Intended results Government to implementPublic Participation Obligations re Brexit, call to facilitate same with the UK, Ireland and the EU pursuant to the Aarhus and Espoo Conventions, and note of our interest. the

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Michael Ewing

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Dear Taoiseach, Ministers, Ms Byrne, Mr Sheridan I write on behalf of the Environmental Pillar, in the context of the emerging negotiating position papers from the UK relating to Brexit in recent weeks, and the proposed European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, known as ‘The Great Repeal Bill’. Firstly, we wish to highlight the obligations arising in respect of public consultation on such matters pursuant to two international conventions to which Ireland, the EU and the UK are party, namely The Aarhus Convention1 and The Espoo Convention2 Secondly, we wish to register our interest in being consulted on these matters as part of the “public concerned”3 and also as members of the public in a country where potential transboundary impacts will arise consequent on Brexit. This request to be consulted is both in the context of the formulation of the UK’s plans, programmes, policy positions, and activities and its legislative proposals etc re Brexit; and also in relation to the EU’s and Ireland’s plan

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Leo Varadkar Taoiseach (Department of the Taoiseach)

Denis Naughten Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Eoghan Murphy Minister (Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government)