Mr John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has increased the landfill levy - effective as of 1 July 2008 - using the power available to him under the Waste Management Acts.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy increased the pressure at a summit in Brussels, saying that further enlargement of the 27-member bloc would be halted if the Czech Republic and other eurosceptic governments failed to ratify the text rejected by Irish voters.

The EU has initiated anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations into imports of biodiesel from the United States.

Newly revised bye-laws affecting beaches and promenades have been rolled-out at 13 locations across County Clare.

Arlene Foster has got off to a flying start in developing a working partnership with Northern Ireland industry and commerce.

Northern Ireland's Environment Minister, Arlene Foster has told the Assembly that environmental crime is not just bad news for the environment - it is anti-competitive.

The White House has directly intervened in two key decisions by the US Environmental Protection Agency - preventing proposed steps to reduce atmospheric pollution, it was revealed last week.

Activities seriously damaging environment will soon become a crime across the 27-nation EU, as the bloc's main institutions have agreed on a piece of law harmonising what constitutes a severe environmental offence and obliging national governments to apply criminal penalties to punish them.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, has announced (29 April) that he proposes to introduce a number of legislative changes aimed at resolving the dispute concerning the name of An Daingean - while giving greater recognition to the Irish language where placename changes are proposed.

The Irish Times has reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adjourned its hearing on the proposed granting of a licence for the Poolbeg incinerator, following the submission of a new report on air quality by Dublin City Council.