And certainly not on bogs that it has been given huge amounts of public funding to rehabilitate.

The Irish public bailed out banks like PTSB & carried that burden for years. Now, we should be asking how people can benefit from its sale. Instead, most of the proceeds are set to be channelled toward subsidising fossil fuel costs driven by wars of choice. We need to kick the fossil fuel addiction

‘This could be groundbreaking for Ireland Inc and the midlands’ – New research reveals transformative potential of ‘energy parks’ Bord na Móna (BnM) looks to be primed to become the major player in a potential radical transformation of swathes of the midlands under policies being drawn up to combine windfarms, data centres and m...

Yes, we should develop renewable energy on publicly owned cut-over bogs but not all. While some sites are suited for renewables, others are valuable for nature restoration.

If we fail to pursue ambitious nature restoration, we risk missing a generational opportunity
m.independent.ie/business/iri...

‘This could be groundbreaking for Ireland Inc and the midlands’ – New research reveals transformative potential of ‘energy parks’ Bord na Móna (BnM) looks to be primed to become the major player in a potential radical transformation of swathes of the midlands under policies being drawn up to combine windfarms, data centres and m...

Yet another gushing story of how bogs are "prime areas for development" with plans for a "radical transformation of swathes of the midlands".

Bogs are important in their own right should be restored not converted to data centres

www.independent.ie/business/iri...

Its stunning. Love the stonework and windows.

All the responses Ive seen have outlined where the expenditure has gone. Whether an exact percentage is allocated for different programmes is another story. Excise and VAT certainly aren't ringfenced.

I think the accessibility to grants for families who can't afford the upfront costs is an issue.

My understanding is it is ringfenced for things like retro-fitting and ACRES agri-environmental schemes. The critiscism is there that grants are still out of reach of the most vulnerable.

Some excellent points from John Gibbons. The carbon tax is a progressive measure, with revenues ring-fenced to support public spending that helps the most vulnerable transition to warmer homes & more sustainable farming practices. Points both the government and opposition should be highlighting

Ireland’s hills are victims of policy that hurts farmers and nature Incentives to do the wrong thing have hindered habitats, wildlife and good farming practice

Sheep grazing is a sensitive issue but is also unavoidable if there is to be nature restoration on the hills.

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

The original appears to have been funded by a UK based construction company and someone else said its been released in Welsh primary schools. This is an updated Irish version with the HR seal of approval.

It can't be that old Emma. MHR has only been in government since early 2024.

Polls have consistently shown that the Irish public does not support our intensive forestry model.

Instead of tackling the root causes of this dissatisfaction, the Irish forestry sector seems determined to “educate” the public. A strategy that seems to involve brainwashing our children.

Polls have consistently shown that the Irish public does not support our intensive forestry model.

Instead of tackling the root causes of this dissatisfaction, the Irish forestry sector seems determined to “educate” the public. A strategy that seems to involve brainwashing our children.

Mind the Gap Ireland is the second richest country in Europe, and this week a single protest shut it down. Here's why.

Some readings worth reading on #FuelCrisis
"That is the worst of all worlds; having heavily taxed workers receiving poor services in a country running a €23 billion surplus funded by companies it doesn’t control."
Sinead O Sullivan
substack.com/home/post/p-...

The Boring, Important Thing about Carbon Tax (And why deferring it is a bad idea)

The carbon tax may not be loved (what tax is?).

There are real concerns about whether its impacts are progressive or regressive. Questions too around how low-income households can afford to limit their exposure.

But that's not the important thing.

marcocathasaigh.substack.com/p/the-boring...

The Greenland trip has to be on there

Fintan O'Toole: Ireland’s far-right movement will emerge from the ‘breakfast roll-atariat’ Fuel protests have seen big wheels driven over democratic norms

Fintan O'Toole: Ireland’s far-right movement will emerge from the ‘breakfast roll-atariat’

Fuel protests reveal flawed relationship between farms, fertilisers and food Farmers have warned of food shortages but Ireland imports most of what it eats

No ports - No food.

Ireland is neither food or fodder secure. Most of what we eat is imported & the food we produce is dependant on imports of fodder & fertilizers.

Irish farmers aren't to blame for this but simplistic narratives won't help untangle this mess.
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

Between 2020 and July 16, 2025, DAFM has been allocated a total of €366 million in carbon tax funding. This money has gone directly to farmers through ACRES agri-env schemes, helping to keep many small and marginal farms viable.
www.agriland.ie/farming-news...

Cutting Carbon Tax mean's defunding supports that help reduce the energy bills of low income families & agri-environmental schemes that help keep family farms out of the red

The government needs to take action to tackle the cost of living but locking us into fossil fuel dependance isn't an option

Ella McSweeney: Cornafulla Bog is a gold mine. Let’s not squander it Siting wind infrastructure on the Shannon bogs is too high a price to pay for renewable energy

Ireland has a rare chance to restore nature at scale on public bogs. Instead, Bord na Móna is pushing wind farm development on sites that should be restored, while refusing to publish their mandate.

Public lands must be managed in the public interest
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Food security is often used as a justification for funneling more public € into a farming model that is not designed to deliver it. Ireland does need greater food sovereignty & resilience, that begins with revitalising our horticulture & tillage sectors while reducing dependence on imports & exports

Winter lingers like a fog until all of a sudden its driven off by the warmth of spring sunshine. Then comes the joy of buds unfurling, the chiffchaff’s singing like a squeaky wheel and the swallows returning from their adventures, like old friends finding their way home.

I think the impacts of farming on the environment is debated much more than the impact of invasive deer in Ireland and for good reason. All of the pressures on nature require debate and action.

‘I’m not a natural-born killer but I’ve learned to shoot ethically and I’ll help cull deer’ Ella McSweeney is not a natural-born killer but she will shoot deer next month for the first time. It’s for the woodlands

"In a world humans have broken, conservation and restoration also requires perpetual, unglamorous killing."

Deer culling and the control of invasive species are not exceptions but integral parts of modern conservation, uncomfortable, yet unavoidable realities.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

Charging an EV during a storm:

"It's a go-kart powered by my own sense of self satisfaction.”

NEW: Israel becomes the first state in history to write INTO LAW the death sentence for one, specific ethnic group.

This is Cabinet member Ben Gvir celebrating with champagne after the vote.

This is not a government, it is a death cult. They won’t serve champagne in The Hague.

(🎥 Cradle Media)

Nature Restoration Plan Farmers and environmentalists have agreed an ambitious plan to restore nature. The only open question now is will government give it the funding it needs.

My experience of working with the other stakeholders on recommendations for the Nature Restoration Plan has been hugely positive

The IAC, Leaders’ Forums & Community Conversations have done our part. Its now the Government’s responsibility to match our ambition.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Great coverage Philip. A very fair reflection of the positivity and concensus between farmers and environmentalists within the IAC.