Carried out over 1,200 inspections of industrial and waste facilities, along with 205 urban waste water and 154 drinking water site inspections.
Obtained 19 convictions for environmental offences.
Monitored more than 2,500 waterbodies – with data showing no significant improvement in water quality – largely caused by high nutrient levels.
Provided real time data at 113 air quality monitoring stations– with particulate matter from solid fuel combustion and nitrogen dioxide from traffic causing poor air quality.
Launched new maps with up to 3 days forecast of Air Quality Index for Health.
In its 2023 Highlights the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showcases its work in addressing environmental challenges across Ireland.
Publishing the review, EPA Director General, Ms Laura Burke said: “2023 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the EPA’s establishment. While our remit has grown, the core of what we do remains the same – we regulate activities that have the potential for significant pollution. We produce timely, reliable, trustworthy data on Ireland’s environment. And we work with others to protect and preserve our environment”.
EPA highlights of 2023 include:
Regulation
Since its establishment 30 years ago, the EPA has assessed thousands of licence applications and each year performs more than a thousand inspections of licensed sites. While the majority have operated well and in accordance with their licence, a small number have not and in those cases the EPA has exercised its full range of enforcement powers, with 19 convictions in 2023 alone. In 2023, the EPA also launched LEAP online, enabling the public to access licence, inspection, and licensee information like never before.
Knowledge
The EPA provides independent scientific evidence to inform decision making. On water quality, the EPA has monitored Ireland’s rivers, lakes and estuaries for decades, with our latest data showing no significant improvement nationally in the biological quality of rivers and lakes, which is largely attributable to excess nitrogen and phosphorous.
New forecast maps launched in 2023 predict air quality for up to three days ahead, using real-time data from 113 ambient air quality monitoring stations nationwide. While air quality in Ireland is generally good, there are concerning localised issues from particulate matter due to burning solid fuel, and nitrogen dioxide from traffic.
Waste generation continues to rise, and recycling rates are not keeping pace. Ireland remains overly reliant on unpredictable export markets for significant quantities of waste sent abroad.
EPA research shows the Irish public overwhelmingly believe climate change is already affecting Ireland, and they support climate action. While our data shows a small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, emissions aren’t declining fast enough to meet Ireland’s commitments for 2030 and beyond.
Working with others
In 2023 the EPA partnered with a range of organisations to support the protection of Ireland’s environment. Collaborations with An Taisce and the city councils of Cork and Galway helped grow citizen science initiatives aiming to improve air quality. And coinciding with its 30th anniversary, the EPA kicked off a novel partnership with the National Library of Ireland to creatively document Ireland’s environment.
Concluding, Ms Burke said: “Three decades on from its establishment, the EPA’s role to protect, improve and restore Ireland’s environment, through regulation, scientific knowledge and working with others, is more relevant than ever”.
Further information is available in the EPA’s Review 2023, HERE
Have you ever heard of the Brat Bríde or Bratóg Bríde (roughly translating from Irish as Brigid’s Rag)?
It’s an old Irish tradition in honour of St Brigid. Long ago it was the custom to tie a small piece of cloth to a bush on January 31st, the eve of St Brigid’s Day, February 1st.
Overnight it was believed that the cloth would be blessed by St Brigid and conferred with healing properties. It was then worn under clothing to protect against sickness, relieve headaches and cure toothaches.
It was particularly important for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, because it was said to help women to produce enough nourishing milk to feed their babies.
This fascinating ancient tradition is currently being highlighted by the “Monasterevin Women’s Collective in Honour of St Brigid” and is among a host of initiatives and activities taking place across Ireland as part of Brigid 1500 celebrations this year, 2024.
The once quote of ‘Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves’, is usually attributed to William Lowndes (1652–1724) an English Whig politician during the reigns of King William, Queen Anne, and King George I. He would become British Secretary of the Treasury in 1695 and bore the nickname “Ways and Means Lowndes”. Despite our move to euro coin denominations in 2002, the proverb still holds that if you concentrate on saving small amounts of money, you’ll soon amass a larger amount.
But enough ‘history waffling’ from me, let’s take a look at the cost and benefits of two brands of Potato Waffles.
Having digested the above data our readers will note that not only is the Harvest Basket Waffles rated better by the app (63/100), but the packet is larger, containing two more waffles, while the price is €1.60 cheaper than its named rival, so do keep this knowledge in mind when next you visit your local supermarket.
No I am not a paid representative for Harvest Basket Waffles. Maybe I should be!
Today, Saturday January 27th the United Nations General Assembly designated this date January 27th; the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution.
The Holocaust was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe, around two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population.
The murders were carried out primarily through mass shootings and poison gas, in extermination camps, chiefly Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Belzec, Sobibor, and Chełmno in occupied Poland. Only a few Holocaust perpetrators faced criminal trials.
Sadly, at this present time here in Ireland and indeed world wide, we are witnessing the alarming rise of anti-Semitism. Indeed it is now more important than ever for us to recognize the critical lessons of Holocaust history, as we commemorate, today, the victims and honour those who survived.
“Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd. Most of the greatest evils that man has inflicted upon man have come through people feeling quite certain about something which, in fact, was false.“ – Quotes by Bertrand Arthur William Russell, (British mathematician, philosopher and public intellectual).
If we want to live in a better world, we start now; by not discriminating against our fellow man any more.
Cashel Library will celebrate St. Brigid, with an event taking place on Tuesday morning next, January 30th at 11:00am sharp.
This year 2024 we celebrate over 3,000 years of ‘Brigid the Goddess’, and 1,500 years of ‘Brigid the Saint’, which is what makes her legacy so enduring.
Cashel Librarian, Ms Maura Barrett, will, on Tuesday morning next, cast more light on the St Brigid story.
Dandelion Flower. (Irish: ‘Bearnán Bhríde’). The Dandelion Flower is long associated with Saint Brigid (known in Irish as ‘Bearnán Bhríde’). It is one of the first blossoms observed after Saint Brigid’s day and it is said that every time you see one in bloom you should think of the bright flame of faith that is Saint Brigid. The flower also signifies that Saint Brigid was one of the first people, thousands of years ago, to draw attention to, and champion biodiversity, through her care of flora and fauna and her knowledge of the environment.
Brigid’s Bird. (Irish: Brìd-eun meaning ‘Brigid’s bird’ or ‘Giolla-Brìghde’ meaning ‘Servant of Bride’). The bird known as the Oystercatcher is connected to St Brigid of Kildare. Legend states St Brigid was running away from a band of evil men, who wished her dead. Alone and on reaching a beach where there was no place to hide, she said a prayer to God to thank him for her life, before lying on the sand to accept her death. However, before the evil men reached where she lay, Oystercatcher birds scavenging on the shoreline, saw her, and realised her predicament covered her with seaweed, thus hiding her and saving her life. She later is said to have blessed the species and since that day the Oystercatcher bird has been linked to Ireland’s principal female saint.
The public are invited to please come along to attend this informative lecture, but please remember booking is essential, so please make contact in advance by Telephoning Cashel Library at 062 63825 or 062 63856, to be sure of a seat.
Note: Tea and Coffee will be served. [ You can locate the Cashel Library building, situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (G487+RX) ].
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