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Access to Information & Enforcement at Member State Level
Áine Ryall
Maastricht, 30 June 2014
@EnvJusticeUCC #AarhusMaastricht
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Why is access to environmental information so important?
What role does information play in environmental governance?
What are the justifications for the right of access to environmental information?
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Why is access to environmental information so important?
Aarhus Convention: Recitals 7, 8, 9, 10 & 17 –
Recital 17: public authorities hold environmental information in the public interest
Directive 2003/4/EC: Recital 1
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Aarhus Convention & Directive 2003/4/EC
Right of access to environmental information held by, or for, public authorities
- on request & within specified time frames
- subject to certain exceptions, but strong presumption in favour of disclosure
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Aarhus Convention & Directive 2003/4/EC
Access to justice provisions
Right of access to a review procedure where right of access is delayed or denied:
Aarhus - Article 9(1), (4) and (5)Directive 2003/4/EC - Article 6
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Aarhus Convention & Directive 2003/4/EC
Proactive dissemination of environmental information by public authorities is absolutely essential
More emphasis on this aspect is needed to underpin the right of access to information
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Role & Potential of Social Media
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Environmental Justice: Back to Basics
Why so important?
To ensure the public’s legitimate interests are protected
To ensure the law is enforced
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Review procedures in Ireland
Public authority decision →
Internal Review
Appeal to Commissioner for Environmental Information
Appeal to High Court on a point of law
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Commissioner for Environmental Information
Problems in practice with appeal procedure
- Appeal fee of €150
- Serious delays and resource issues
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Commissioner for Environmental Information
Problems with how Ireland has transposed Directive 2003/4/EC
- mandatory exceptions (?!)- scope of Commissioner’s jurisdiction
An Taoiseach [Prime Minister] v Commissioner for Environmental Information [2010] IEHC 241
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Commissioner for Environmental Information
Implementation challenges
- Public authorities charging for access to info.
- Definition of “public authority”
Is the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) a “public authority”?
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Commissioner for Environmental Information
NAMA v Commissioner for Environmental Information [2013] IEHC 86
- Request for info. made by Gavin Sheridan - February 2010
- High Court ruling - February 2013- Appeal to Supreme Court currently being
heard - July 2014
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Infringement proceedings by EU Commission?
Complaint made to Commission by ENGO Friends of the Irish Environment in October 2012 concerning access to information & implementation of Directive 2003/4/EC in Ireland
No formal action by Commission against Ireland to date
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Aarhus, EU law & Role of the Courts
Courts in the spotlight - at EU & national level
Gradual evolution of basic principles & emerging trends in the case law
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Future Directions
Political will to deliver on environmental rights and provide the necessary resources to underpin Aarhus implementation.
Aarhus rights must be championed at national level → awareness raising & cultural change to integrate Aarhus successfully into the national system
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Future Directions
Resource public authorities to deliver and to enforce Aarhus & EU environmental law rights
Reduce the need for appeals to Commissioner for Environmental Information and subsequent court proceedings triggered by basic shortcomings in the system of environmental governance
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Ongoing Research Project
Faculty of Law, UCC
Identify key issues &consider potential means of improving access to environmental justice in Ireland
http://environmentaljustice.ie/
@EnvJusticeUCC
Mapping the Future of EnvironmentalJustice