The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL) are delighted to announce the return of their joint conference Environmental Law Enforcement: Emerging Challenges 2022.

The conference will take place from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday 30 November 2022 in the Kings Inns, Dublin 7.  The conference will be both in person and available to stream online.

It is open to all and free of charge.  Advance registration is essential for both in-person and online attendance. Due to demand, there are a limited number of tickets  remaining to attend in person.

Convened by Dr Tom Ryan (EPA) and Margaret Gray, SC KC, the conference will consider a range of contemporary themes relating to environmental law enforcement.

6 CPD points will be available for attendees.

You can register to attend in person here and online here.  

PROGRAMME

9.00    Registration

9.25    Welcome & Introduction

Laura Burke, Director General EPA

9.40 Opening Remarks – Conference Chair

Margaret Gray SC KC, Law Library

9.50 Morning keynote: Ms Justice Nuala Butler, Court of Appeal

 

Session 1 Current enforcement issues

10.05 Chair’s Introduction

10.10-10-30 Rory Mulcahy SC, Law Library

“Overview of where we are now before Irish Courts”

10.30 – 10.50 Rachel Minch SC, Philip Lee

“Recent Developments in CJEU case law”

10.50 – 11.10 Remy Farrell SC, Law Library

“Focus on regulatory enforcement actions/ Peat Enforcement/Issues with prosecutions”

11.10 Q&A

11.25 Coffee Break

 

Session 2 PhD Presentations

11.45 Chair’s Introduction

Dr. Tom Ryan, EPA

11.50 Julián Suárez, University College Cork

“Recognising ‘rights of nature’ in Ireland”

12.05 Alessandra Accogli, University College Dublin

“Peatlands in Ireland”

12.20 Alexandru Gociu, Trinity College Dublin

“Reviving the Norwegian Climate Case”

12.35 Q&A

 

12.55pm Lunch break

 

AFTERNOON SESSION

1.40 Chair’s Introduction

1.45 Afternoon keynote: President of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville

Session 3 Air, Water and Earth

2.00 Chair’s Introduction

2.05 Alison Fanagan SC, A&L Goodbody

“Recent developments in climate litigation”

2.20 Hannah Godfrey BL, Law Library

“Recent developments in water litigation”

2.35pm Sibylle Grohs, European Commission

“Recent developments in earth/nature protections”

2.50pm Questions

 

Session 4 – International Panel: trends and challenges in Access to Justice and Rule of Law issues

3pm Chair’s introduction

3.10 James Maurici KC, Landmark Chambers, London

“The UK and the Aarhus Convention”

3.30 Professor Áine Ryall, UCC and Chair of the UN ECE Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee

3.50 Mr Justice John MacMenamin, Supreme Court

4.10pm Panel discussion and Q&A

4.30pm Tribute to Dr John Temple Lang

– Dr Vincent Power SC

– Professor Áine Ryall

 

4.45pm Chair’s Closing remark

 

Enquiries to: ICEL@tcd.ie