Environmental Action Alliance-Ireland (EAA-I) is a distinguished environmental advocacy organisation, recognised for its substantial engagement in litigation before the Irish High Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Under the esteemed guidance of Eurolaw Environmental Consultant David Malone, the organisation is dedicated to the strict enforcement of European Union environmental legislation and the principles set out in the Aarhus Convention.

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Key Legal Precedents

The EAA-I is best known for the landmark CJEU ruling People Over Wind & EAA-I v An Bord Pleanála (Case C-323/17).

• The Ruling: Established that mitigation measures cannot be considered during the Stage 1 Screening for Appropriate Assessment (AA).

• Impact: This remains a cornerstone of Irish planning law, ensuring that any project requiring mitigation must proceed to a full Stage 2 Natura Impact Statement.

Aarhus Convention & ACCC Involvement

EAA-I serves as a "watchdog" for Ireland’s compliance with the Aarhus Convention, securing several critical findings from the Compliance Committee (ACCC):

• NREAP Challenge (ACCC/C/2010/54): Successfully argued that Ireland failed to provide mandatory public participation for the National Renewable Energy Action Plan.

• Systemic Failures (ACCC/C/2014/112): Contributed to findings that Ireland’s complex planning framework and prohibitive legal costs create barriers to environmental justice.

High Court Litigation Focus

In Irish High Court proceedings, the group typically challenges:

• Procedural Defects: Strict adherence to Section 50 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

• Access to Justice: Advocating for "not prohibitively expensive" litigation under Article 9 of the Aarhus Convention.

• Technical Compliance: Identifying evidential gaps in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Habitats Directive screenings.