EU ministers agree watered-down climate target
Environment ministers have agreed to cut EU greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 after talks that lasted through the night. A majority of EU member states voted in…
Climate change damage costing Ireland billions per year and growing – Central Bank
The economic cost of clearing up for damage caused by climate change reached €2.5 billion last year, and that is excluding the impact on health and wellbeing, the Central Bank…
Last attempt to agree EU climate target before COP
EU environment ministers are meeting in Brussels for a last-ditch attempt to agree a climate target before the COP climate summit. The European Commission has proposed to cut greenhouse gas…
Irish government urges EU not to scrap Life fund
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has signed up to a letter putting pressure on the European Commission not to scrap its climate funding programme. The letter, which…
McGrath to raise product safety concerns during China visit
Michael McGrath has promised to raise concerns about product safety – including children’s toys and electronics – during a trip to China this week. Ireland’s European Commissioner has a responsibility…
Ireland’s trade with Canada ‘nearly doubled’
Ireland trade with Canada has nearly doubled since an EU trade deal entered into force in 2017, the government says. The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) provisionally entered…
District heating could drastically cut energy bills
Excess heat from data centres, geothermal sources and industry could be converted into district heating for neighbourhoods all over Ireland, according to a new joint project launched by the government…
New rules on social media data access
Researchers have been granted what the EU is calling “unprecedented access” to social networks under new rules that come into force from today. “This act will grant access to non-public…
Council of Europe concerned over Irish equality commission’s ‘effectiveness’
An increase in responsibilities without an increase in budget could limit the abilities of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), the Council of Europe has warned. The Council…
EU bank pledges €400 million towards affordable homes across Ireland
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to loan the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) €400 million to unlock the building of hundreds of new social and affordable homes. The EU…