Environmental action group, Friends of the Earth have launched an Irish branch today in conjunction with a report which concludes that the State's record in protecting the environment is abysmal and that the country is "on the verge of becoming an environmental disaster area".
Friends of the Earth board member Mr Mark Dearey
The environmental organisation has proposed a 28-point action plan that, it says, will lead to a more sustainable future.
The action plan includes a demand that the Government to live up to its responsibilities under the Kyoto Agreement and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This would require an increase in energy generated from renewable resources from the current level of 2 per cent to 13 per cent by 2010.
They have also called for the adoption of a 'zero waste' policy rather than incineration, the proper enforcement of the Protection of the Environment Act, Ireland to be declared a declared a GM-free zone and an aviation fuel tax which would reflect the real cost of air travel.
"As a nation we have not shown anything like enough care for our natural treasures," said Friends of the Earth board member Mr Mark Dearey. "Once degraded they are almost impossible to claim back.
"There is talk of the Celtic Tiger returning, but it needs to be taught some manners and basic facts of life. It cannot be allowed to continue to munch through our natural capital as though there is an infinite supply of land banks, clean water and fossil fuels".
Friends of the Earth has laid the blame for current the situation at the government's door and has said it is "alarmed by the indifference and neglect of the environment by successive Irish governments".
Problems highlighted by the organisation include widespread illegal dumping, a high level of ground water contamination, the decline in Irish fish stocks and increasing carbon dioxide emissions which will cost taxpayers an additional €40 million a year by 2008.
"Two peat-fired electricity generating stations to be operated by the ESB, will burn the equivalent of two thousand football pitches of Europe's most valuable peat lands every year for the next fifteen years," said Mr Dearey.
"Decisions like these illustrate why Ireland needs Friends of the Earth".
"Ireland has the highest number of environmental complaints per head of population in the EU," said Mr Tony Juniper, vice chairman of Friends of the Earth International.
"The European Court of Justice has nine times found Ireland guilty of breaking EU environmental law. The failure of Ireland to control the illegal disposal of waste is 'persistent, widespread and serious' according to the European Court."
Friends of the Earth Ireland plans to work closely with its sister organisation in Northern Ireland to tackle the problem of waste from the Republic being dumped illegally in the North.
Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent has welcomed the launch of Friends of the Earth and has said it is particularly timely and urgent in the light of a international report released today which declares the need for industrialised countries to cut greenhouse gases by as much as 80% by 2050.
"If not then global warming threatens to make all UN targets to reduce poverty unachievable," said Mr Sargent. "At Kyoto agreement could only be reached to cut these gases by 5% by 2012."