Press Release: Ireland: Commission seeks fine over breach of environmental law; sends final written warning in strategic environmental assessment case

The European Commission took Ireland back to the European Court of Justice, with the possibility of fines, for failing to implement an earlier ruling on quality standards for shellfish waters on the Irish coast. The Commission proposed to ask the Court to impose a lump-sum fine of over €3.8 million and a daily penalty payment of nearly €40,000. However, because Ireland had announced that it is finalising measures to comply with the judgment, the Commission proposed deferring this legal action for three months to allow the Irish authorities to complete the necessary steps. In a separate case, the Commission is sending Ireland a final written warning for allowing changes to development plans without requiring a strategic environmental assessment (SEA).