Ireland was today found to be in breach of European environment law on the conservation of natural habitats and has been ordered to pay court costs.
The European Court of Justice said three member states - Ireland, France and Germany - had failed to comply with the 1992 directive on the conservation of habitats.
Counsel for the State claimed the delay in nominating special sites for conservation in Ireland was attributable to difficulties in the local planning process.
All member states had been required to forward draft lists of sites for conservation to the Commission.
The EU is pursuing environmental conservation through the establishment of a European ecological network of special areas for the conservation of the habitats of protected species - called the "Natura 2000" network.
Full and immediate enforcement of the EU Habitats Directive is needed to ensure Irish sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) do not continue to be damaged and destroyed, according to leading environmental and conservation groups.
Dr Peter Foss, of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, said the "political will to protect our natural heritage is missing."
He said the government was aware eighteen months ago that it was failing to comply with the habitats directive yet did nothing about it. He said Minister De Valera was expecting today’s ruling and said the Department "have only themselves to blame."
Conservation groups in Ireland last year submitted a list of 28 sites they believe to be threatened and have criticised Dúchas and Minister Ms Síle de Valera for failing to ensure developers and landowners observe ecology directives.
SACs, under immediate threat of destruction include: Pollardstown Fen - despite a redesign of the Kildare bypass; Brittas Bay in Co Wicklow, due to destruction of dunes; Barrigone near Askeaton, Co Limerick, where quarrying may be permitted; Moud's Bog in Co Kildare, due to extension of industrial moss peat extraction, and Wexford Harbour, where five hectares of mudflats at Ferrybank have been infilled.
Labour TD Mr Brian O’Shea called on the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands Ms Síle de Valera to "get her act together". Mr O’Shea said: "Minister De Valera’s antipathy to the EU is well known, but she should not allow her personal views to prevent directives that will protect the environment."
A statement by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is expected later today.