Member State report / Art18 / 2018 / D10 / Ireland / NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 18 Interim report on programme of measures
Report due 2018-10-15
GES Descriptor D10 Litter
Member State Ireland
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas
Reported by Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
Report date 2019-10-21
Report access 2019_10_21_msfd-ART18_1.xml
Marine reporting units
Features
Measure code
ACSIE-M014
ACSIE-M015
ACSIE-M068
ACSIE-M124
ACSIE-M125
ACSIE-M126
ACSIE-M128
ACSIE-M129
ACSIE-M133
ACSIE-M148
ACSIE-M158
ACSIE-M164
ACSIE-M167
ACSIE-M181
ACSIE-M182
ACSIE-M183
ACSIE-M184
ACSIE-M185
ACSIE-M186
ACSIE-M188
ACSIE-M190
ACSIE-M191
ACSIE-M192
ACSIE-M193
ACSIE-M195
ACSIE-M196
ACSIE-M197
ACSIE-M198
ACSIE-M201
ACSIE-M202
ACSIE-M203
ACSIE-M204
ACSIE-M205
ACSIE-M206
ACSIE-M207
ACSIE-M208
ACSIE-M209
ACSIE-M212
ACSIE-M213
ACSIE-M214
ACSIE-M215
ACSIE-M216
ACSIE-M217
ACSIE-M218
ACSIE-M219
ACSIE-M220
ACSIE-M221
Measure name
Continue to implement the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC) in order to identify, minimise and mitigate potential adverse environmental impacts.
Awareness and training of best practices in maritime and coastal activities and preservation of the marine environment.
Ensuring on-going implementation of guidelines for the assessment of dredged material for disposal in Irish waters, the application of the Foreshore Acts and the licensing, permitting and enforcement of activities under the Dumping At Sea Act.
Continue to implement national legislation to appropriately apply licensing, regulation and planning for the marine and coastal environment, including the requirement for applications to be accompanied by the materials necessary for a full assessment of the proposed plan, project or development.
Ensure that appropriate forms and levels of organisational governance are in place to support Foreshore Licensing, Petroleum Exploration/Appraisal/ Production Licensing, and proposed Maritime Option Licensing process.
Ensure that the consenting/ permitting processes, overseen by relevant regulatory bodies/statutory bodies, sufficiently account for the adequate protection of habitats and species.
To apply the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and associated legislation in relation to licences and consents.
Continue to develop and implement river basin and shoreline management plans to control impacts and improve environmental status.
Ensure that environmental monitoring and mitigation measures stipulated in Environmental Impact Statements are fit for purpose and when/where deemed necessary are conducted appropriately.
Continue to control discharges through existing regulation procedures (licensing and permitting of activities) – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control licences, Waste Water Discharge Licence, Local Authority Wastewater Authorisation (smaller discharges), Local Authority Waste Licences, Agricultural controls, Single Dwelling House Waste Water Systems and the implementation of Pollution Reduction Plans.
Continue to enforce the Dumping at Sea Act 1996 (as amended), which specifically prohibits the dumping of certain materials at sea and requires any person who wishes to dispose of material at sea to apply to the EPA for a Dumping at Sea permit.
Continued Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships through the implementation of regulations laid out in MARPOL Annex V (entered into force 31 December 1988) and S.I. No. 372/2012
Continued provision of port waste reception facilities in commercial and fishing ports.
To continue to enforce the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009, which make littering an offence.
To continue to implement regional waste management plans and a national hazardous waste management plan.
To continue to promote the use of packaging substitution.
To continue to provide appropriate infrastructure for proper litter disposal and recycling including signage and bins.
To continue to support initiatives which promote public pride in local amenity/natural beauty or reinforce social norms against littering.
To continue to apply disincentives to litter (e.g. fines).
To continue to apply Waste Prevention Programmes.
Continue beach cleaning (with Local Authority operational cleaning of the foreshore) and litter enforcement.
To continue to contribute to a low carbon economy by treating “waste as a resource”.
Promote greater reuse and recycling of goods and materials and management of waste.
To continue to charge for single use carrier bags through the applications of the Plastic Bag (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (S.I. No. 167/2007), amending Plastic Bag Regulations (S.I. No. 605/2001).
To encourage the reuse and recycling of waste and the reduction of the amount of waste destined for landfill through the application of Waste Management (Landfill Levy) Regulations 2002-2013.
To continue to enforce the requirement to put in place a site waste management plan at marine-related developments through the application of the EU Directive 2000/59/EC on port reception facilities for ship-generated wastes and cargo residues.
Combined Storm Overflow Control (screening & limiting of spills) and application of the discharge licensing requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Waste Framework Directive and Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive.
To reduce litter entering rivers and other water bodies by addressing pollution from surface water runoff and drainage through the application of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).
Measures to maintain restrictions on the range of material that can be disposed of at sea from ships; and increase and improve port reception facilities for ship-generated waste; and extend port waste reception facilities to fishermen.
To continue to raise awareness to tackle the sources of litter through the Blue Flag Beach and Green Coast Award programmes.
Continue to implement the Producer Responsibility Initiative to increase the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Continue to enforce legislation (S.I. No. 513/2012) restricting the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
To continue to implement the Producer Responsibility Initiative to increase the recycling of farm plastic waste through the application of the farm plastics recovery scheme.
Maintain and expand the Fishing for Litter Scheme.
Continue to promote and support An Taisce´s programme on Ocean Literacy.
Maintain sea users’ awareness of waste issues and encourage compliance with existing rules.
Continue to promote the waste management service in order to provide alternative methods for the disposal of discarded fishing gear.
To continue to apply the BIM Responsibly Sourced Standard for wild capture fisheries.
To continue to raise awareness to tackle the sources of litter through the international environmental education programme Eco-Schools. This includes developing an international Eco-School module on marine litter with the Celtic Seas Partnership, Eco Schools (FEE - Copenhagen) and An Taisce.
On-going implementation of the #2minutebeachclean/#Glantra2noimead initiative and expansion across all blue flag beaches in Ireland.
Continue to implement the Producer Responsibility Initiative to increase the recycling of construction and demolition waste.
Continue to implement the Producer Responsibility Initiative to increase the recycling of construction and demolition waste.
Continue to implement the Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI) to increase the recycling of packaging waste; and to continue to promote, co-ordinate and finance the collection and recovery of packaging waste in order to achieve the objectives set out in the Packaging Waste Directive.
Continue to implement the Producer Responsibility Initiative to increase the recycling of tyres.
To continue to implement the Producer Responsibility Initiative to increase the recycling of end – of - life vehicles.
Continue to promote the Bord Iascaigh Mhara Environment Management System (EMS) to assist fishermen to implement practices to help minimise the impact of fishing effort on the marine environment.
Continue to promote the implementation of the Environment Management System on fish and shellfish farms through the Environment Management System for Aquaculture initiative.
Measure category (type)
1a
2b
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
2a
2a
1a
1a
2b
2b
2b
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
1a
Progress in implementation
Measure implemented
Measure implemented
Measure implemented
Implementation started
Measure implemented
Measure implemented
Measure withdrawn
No
No
No
No
No
No
Reason for withdrawal
Year of implementation (Temporal coverage - timeline for implementation)
2016
2015
2012
2016
2016
2014
Delay
0
0
0
0
0
0
Reasons for delay
Other obstacles (Obstacles to implementation)
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
Type of obstacle
Other
Further information on obstacle (Description)
Brief description of progress (measurement of effectiveness of measure)
Work is ongoing on multiple fronts through environment education campaigns, structured education and sector specific educational activities. https://greenschoolsireland.org/ http://www.bim.ie/fishing-for-litter/ https://ien.ie/coastwatch/
The Fishing for Litter (FFL) is expanding and uptake by fishers has been very good. http://www.bim.ie/fishing-for-litter/
The Coast Care and Green School's Marine Environment Module is an education and awareness raising programme. The Green Schools' (eco-schools) Module is rolled out to primary and second level schools across the country. The Green Schools programme is operated by 95% of Irish schools - though not all have completed the marine environment module yet as the programme requires that they complete other modules first. https://greenschoolsireland.org/ https://cleancoasts.org/
Linking the Responsibly Sourced Standard (RSS) to the development of FIPS (Fishery Improvement Projects) has increased the business case for RSS http://www.bim.ie/our-services/your-environment/fisherman/ http://www.bim.ie/our-services/grow-your-business/rss,standard/ http://www.bim.ie/media/bim/content/our-services/grow-your-business/wild-capture-fish/BIM,RSS_FIPS,Leaflet.pdf
The marine litter module was launched by Green-Schools Ireland (Eco-Schools) in September 2016 with 53 schools taking part. It was a huge success and a further 150 schools started the module in September 2017. Currently there are 235 schools working on the topic of marine litter in their schools across Ireland, this is expected to increase again in September 2019. The Green-Schools programme offers assistance to schools to help them increase their knowledge on the problems associated with Marine Litter and how to take action to prevent it. This assistance includes, teacher training, school workshops and national conferences on Marine litter for 9-12 year olds. These have resulted in an average of 40 percent increase in awareness levels of participants on the sources of marine Litter, effects of Marine litter on the environment, and how they can prevent marine litter entering the environment. https://greenschoolsireland.org/
The 2-minute beach clean is operated on all blue flag beach and many other beaches around Ireland. Publicity material, packs and merchandise with An Taisce branding are provided to those involved with the initiative. The campaign is widely promoted at national festivals/events and on social media. A smartphone App is available for volunteers for digital uploading of material directly on social media sites. The DHPLG continues to provide support and funding for the #2minutebeachclean initiative. http://www.antaisce.org/articles/2-minute-beach-clean http://www.antaisce.org/programmes/blue-flag