Elaine McGoff
@elainemcgoff.bsky.social
PhD. Head of Advocacy for An Taisce. Water floats my boat. 🚲 powered. Views are my own.
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Elaine McGoff
@elainemcgoff.bsky.social
· Jun 20
SWAN member, @antaisce.bsky.social, had their Head of Advocacy @elainemcgoff.bsky.social on Primetime last night talking about the pollution crisis in Lady's Island Lake.
Watch the full piece here: 👇https://www.rte.ie/player/series/prime-time/SI0000000825?epguid=IH10008770-25-0050
Watch the full piece here: 👇https://www.rte.ie/player/series/prime-time/SI0000000825?epguid=IH10008770-25-0050
Lady's Island lake is the end result of decades of agricultural nitrogen water pollution.
The only way we can turn the agricultural nitrogen pollution problem around is if those in power admit that their measures aren't working.
It's time to actually listen to the evidence, not the spin.
The only way we can turn the agricultural nitrogen pollution problem around is if those in power admit that their measures aren't working.
It's time to actually listen to the evidence, not the spin.
🎯
'The ignoring of facts, the sidelining of scientists and the breezy assertions, repeated ad nauseum, that Irish agriculture is ‘sustainable’ are largely responsible for the mess Irish farming finds itself in. Honesty alone will not dig us out of the hole, but it would be a start.'
'The ignoring of facts, the sidelining of scientists and the breezy assertions, repeated ad nauseum, that Irish agriculture is ‘sustainable’ are largely responsible for the mess Irish farming finds itself in. Honesty alone will not dig us out of the hole, but it would be a start.'
My attempt to cut through some of the misinformation around farming and water quality as we approach decision time on Ireland’s nitrates derogation
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Ireland's lax approach to inspecting farms and enforcing rules
The EU Nitrates Committee meets tomorrow and may extend Ireland's nitrates derogation by up to three years. At the same time we need to protect or restore water quality on a national scale writes ecol...
www.irishexaminer.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
🎯
'The ignoring of facts, the sidelining of scientists and the breezy assertions, repeated ad nauseum, that Irish agriculture is ‘sustainable’ are largely responsible for the mess Irish farming finds itself in. Honesty alone will not dig us out of the hole, but it would be a start.'
'The ignoring of facts, the sidelining of scientists and the breezy assertions, repeated ad nauseum, that Irish agriculture is ‘sustainable’ are largely responsible for the mess Irish farming finds itself in. Honesty alone will not dig us out of the hole, but it would be a start.'
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
‘The ignoring of facts, the sidelining of scientists and the breezy assertions, repeated ad nauseum, that Irish agriculture is ‘sustainable’ are largely responsible for the mess Irish farming finds itself in.’
💯
💯
My attempt to cut through some of the misinformation around farming and water quality as we approach decision time on Ireland’s nitrates derogation
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Ireland's lax approach to inspecting farms and enforcing rules
The EU Nitrates Committee meets tomorrow and may extend Ireland's nitrates derogation by up to three years. At the same time we need to protect or restore water quality on a national scale writes ecol...
www.irishexaminer.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM
‘The ignoring of facts, the sidelining of scientists and the breezy assertions, repeated ad nauseum, that Irish agriculture is ‘sustainable’ are largely responsible for the mess Irish farming finds itself in.’
💯
💯
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Judicial reviews are not the enemy of progress — they are a vital safeguard
Recent headlines have been flooded with a false narrative about the planning system
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
Recent headlines have been flooded with a false narrative about the planning system
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
Fred Logue: Judicial reviews are not the enemy of progress — they are a vital safeguard
Judicial review is a way for ordinary people to ensure that laws protecting their homes, communities and the environment are enforced.
www.independent.ie
December 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Judicial reviews are not the enemy of progress — they are a vital safeguard
Recent headlines have been flooded with a false narrative about the planning system
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
Recent headlines have been flooded with a false narrative about the planning system
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
A must read article 👇
'Judicial review isn’t an obstacle — it’s a quality check. When projects meet legal and environmental standards, they proceed. When they don’t, the courts step in. That’s democracy.'
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
'Judicial review isn’t an obstacle — it’s a quality check. When projects meet legal and environmental standards, they proceed. When they don’t, the courts step in. That’s democracy.'
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
Fred Logue: Judicial reviews are not the enemy of progress — they are a vital safeguard
Judicial review is a way for ordinary people to ensure that laws protecting their homes, communities and the environment are enforced.
www.independent.ie
December 5, 2025 at 5:59 PM
A must read article 👇
'Judicial review isn’t an obstacle — it’s a quality check. When projects meet legal and environmental standards, they proceed. When they don’t, the courts step in. That’s democracy.'
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
'Judicial review isn’t an obstacle — it’s a quality check. When projects meet legal and environmental standards, they proceed. When they don’t, the courts step in. That’s democracy.'
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Support the Bill to Ban Fox Hunting in Ireland 🦊
Background & call to action here 👉 iwt.ie/support-the-...
@banbloodsports.bsky.social @irishenvnet.bsky.social #BanFoxHunting
Background & call to action here 👉 iwt.ie/support-the-...
@banbloodsports.bsky.social @irishenvnet.bsky.social #BanFoxHunting
Support the Bill to Ban Fox Hunting in Ireland - Irish Wildlife Trust
The Irish Wildlife Trust supports the Bill to Ban Fox Hunting in Ireland. We are calling for a free vote for all TDs on this Bill. It is an amendment to the Animal Health and Welfare Act (2013) which ...
iwt.ie
December 4, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Support the Bill to Ban Fox Hunting in Ireland 🦊
Background & call to action here 👉 iwt.ie/support-the-...
@banbloodsports.bsky.social @irishenvnet.bsky.social #BanFoxHunting
Background & call to action here 👉 iwt.ie/support-the-...
@banbloodsports.bsky.social @irishenvnet.bsky.social #BanFoxHunting
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Here we are yet again - another very busy Christmas period that the Government is using to bury changes that will seriously erode the public’s right to access justice and hold our public authorities to account.
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Judicial review plans are an attack on justice
The Government is burying the public consultation for drastic new rules limiting access to the courts over the Christmas period — don't let them away with it
www.irishexaminer.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Here we are yet again - another very busy Christmas period that the Government is using to bury changes that will seriously erode the public’s right to access justice and hold our public authorities to account.
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Dig a little deeper, and a pattern starts to emerge: coordinated messaging, shared interests, and a narrowing space for independent voices.
padraigmcevoy.substack.com/p/how-irelan...
padraigmcevoy.substack.com/p/how-irelan...
How Ireland’s Elites are Coordinating Against Judicial Review
Ireland’s major opinion pages across The Business Post, The Sunday Independent and The Irish Times began singing in unison. The refrain: judicial review is strangling progress.
padraigmcevoy.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Dig a little deeper, and a pattern starts to emerge: coordinated messaging, shared interests, and a narrowing space for independent voices.
padraigmcevoy.substack.com/p/how-irelan...
padraigmcevoy.substack.com/p/how-irelan...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Calling it out for what it really is 🤐 rather than a #planning system where the decisions are legally compliant & #sustainable - we get this #HowIrelandWorks same old playlist #scalesofjustice
@attractaub.bsky.social @irishrainforest.bsky.social @savethehellfire.bsky.social
@attractaub.bsky.social @irishrainforest.bsky.social @savethehellfire.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Calling it out for what it really is 🤐 rather than a #planning system where the decisions are legally compliant & #sustainable - we get this #HowIrelandWorks same old playlist #scalesofjustice
@attractaub.bsky.social @irishrainforest.bsky.social @savethehellfire.bsky.social
@attractaub.bsky.social @irishrainforest.bsky.social @savethehellfire.bsky.social
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
The truth?
The Irish public doesn't WANT their national rivers and lakes turned into stinking, dying, cesspools for profit by a particular commercial sector, that also happens to be very heavily subsidised by people's taxes.
Yet that's what this government continues to push for.
The Irish public doesn't WANT their national rivers and lakes turned into stinking, dying, cesspools for profit by a particular commercial sector, that also happens to be very heavily subsidised by people's taxes.
Yet that's what this government continues to push for.
A new Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by An Taisce, reveals Irish public appear at odds with Government’s application for a derogation from EU Nitrates Directive.
It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th.
Full results:
www.antaisce.org/news/public-...
It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th.
Full results:
www.antaisce.org/news/public-...
December 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The truth?
The Irish public doesn't WANT their national rivers and lakes turned into stinking, dying, cesspools for profit by a particular commercial sector, that also happens to be very heavily subsidised by people's taxes.
Yet that's what this government continues to push for.
The Irish public doesn't WANT their national rivers and lakes turned into stinking, dying, cesspools for profit by a particular commercial sector, that also happens to be very heavily subsidised by people's taxes.
Yet that's what this government continues to push for.
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
An Taisce did some polling on irish attitudes to water and the Nitrates derogation- the majority of those polled are not in support of another derogation.
A new Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by An Taisce, reveals Irish public appear at odds with Government’s application for a derogation from EU Nitrates Directive.
It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th.
Full results:
www.antaisce.org/news/public-...
It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th.
Full results:
www.antaisce.org/news/public-...
December 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
An Taisce did some polling on irish attitudes to water and the Nitrates derogation- the majority of those polled are not in support of another derogation.
An interesting poll on public attitudes to water and the derogation:
'Irish people want clean, healthy waters, it’s time the Government actually started protecting that precious resource, instead of giving it lip service while prioritising the demands of the agri-business industry'
'Irish people want clean, healthy waters, it’s time the Government actually started protecting that precious resource, instead of giving it lip service while prioritising the demands of the agri-business industry'
A new Ireland Thinks poll, commissioned by An Taisce, reveals Irish public appear at odds with Government’s application for a derogation from EU Nitrates Directive.
It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th.
Full results:
www.antaisce.org/news/public-...
It comes days before a crucial EU vote on the derogation expected on December 9th.
Full results:
www.antaisce.org/news/public-...
December 4, 2025 at 11:28 AM
An interesting poll on public attitudes to water and the derogation:
'Irish people want clean, healthy waters, it’s time the Government actually started protecting that precious resource, instead of giving it lip service while prioritising the demands of the agri-business industry'
'Irish people want clean, healthy waters, it’s time the Government actually started protecting that precious resource, instead of giving it lip service while prioritising the demands of the agri-business industry'
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per person
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per person
Farming and forestry responsible for 38% of State’s total output of gases linked to climate change
www.irishtimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Ireland second highest in EU for greenhouse gas emissions per person
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
'the current heavy loading of agricultural nutrients will have to stop. Lakes and rivers need to be given the chance to breathe, to reoxygenate their habitats so that life can return.'
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Anja Murray: Nitrates not giving our rivers a chance to breathe
Why is it now widely considered acceptable to heap pollutants in to lakes until the ecosystems they once sustained are eliminated?
www.irishexaminer.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
'the current heavy loading of agricultural nutrients will have to stop. Lakes and rivers need to be given the chance to breathe, to reoxygenate their habitats so that life can return.'
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ou...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Irish bird-lovers: the annual Irish Garden Bird Survey starts tomorrow 🥳 🙌 🎉
If you need a reason to keep going in the darkest days of winter, count birds.
If you want to be a citizen scientist, count birds.
If breakfasts are boring, count birds.
Got a few spare moments? Just count birds.
If you need a reason to keep going in the darkest days of winter, count birds.
If you want to be a citizen scientist, count birds.
If breakfasts are boring, count birds.
Got a few spare moments? Just count birds.
Get ready for the Irish Garden Bird Survey, which kicks off on Monday 1st December! We need records from as many gardens across Ireland as possible, so please spread the word! birdwatchireland.ie/irish-garden...
November 30, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Irish bird-lovers: the annual Irish Garden Bird Survey starts tomorrow 🥳 🙌 🎉
If you need a reason to keep going in the darkest days of winter, count birds.
If you want to be a citizen scientist, count birds.
If breakfasts are boring, count birds.
Got a few spare moments? Just count birds.
If you need a reason to keep going in the darkest days of winter, count birds.
If you want to be a citizen scientist, count birds.
If breakfasts are boring, count birds.
Got a few spare moments? Just count birds.
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
We never talk about, when there is such a feel-good factor around such fundraising drives, and we marvel at the amounts raised, how the State should be fully funding many of these organisations to do this work. OR PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ITSELF. Because we have a right to public services.
November 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
We never talk about, when there is such a feel-good factor around such fundraising drives, and we marvel at the amounts raised, how the State should be fully funding many of these organisations to do this work. OR PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ITSELF. Because we have a right to public services.
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Generations from now, when historians study this period where we have perfect understanding of the problem, and brilliant, readily available solutions with all the resources necessary to implement them, they'll study cases like this to try to figure out why we kept drilling holes in our lifeboat.
November 28, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Generations from now, when historians study this period where we have perfect understanding of the problem, and brilliant, readily available solutions with all the resources necessary to implement them, they'll study cases like this to try to figure out why we kept drilling holes in our lifeboat.
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
SWAN's submission to the draft 6th Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) is out.
The NAP is meant to be a plan to tackle nutrient pollution in Ireland, but it fails in urgency & relies on inadequate measures that won't achieve what is needed to restore our waters.
swanireland.ie/wp-content/u...
The NAP is meant to be a plan to tackle nutrient pollution in Ireland, but it fails in urgency & relies on inadequate measures that won't achieve what is needed to restore our waters.
swanireland.ie/wp-content/u...
November 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
SWAN's submission to the draft 6th Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) is out.
The NAP is meant to be a plan to tackle nutrient pollution in Ireland, but it fails in urgency & relies on inadequate measures that won't achieve what is needed to restore our waters.
swanireland.ie/wp-content/u...
The NAP is meant to be a plan to tackle nutrient pollution in Ireland, but it fails in urgency & relies on inadequate measures that won't achieve what is needed to restore our waters.
swanireland.ie/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Ireland has failed to provide any evidence that the next nitrates derogation will provide solutions to our ever-worsening water quality. We aren't holding up our end of the bargain, and we haven't for decades.
#NitratesDerogation
#NitratePollution
#NitratesDerogation
#NitratePollution
November 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Ireland has failed to provide any evidence that the next nitrates derogation will provide solutions to our ever-worsening water quality. We aren't holding up our end of the bargain, and we haven't for decades.
#NitratesDerogation
#NitratePollution
#NitratesDerogation
#NitratePollution
I spoke to Pat Kenny earlier about the derogation decision
'In theory, we should only get the derogation on the condition that it not impact on water quality. We’re not holding up our end of the bargain, and we haven’t for decades '
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
'In theory, we should only get the derogation on the condition that it not impact on water quality. We’re not holding up our end of the bargain, and we haven’t for decades '
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
EU commission recommends an extension to Ireland's nitrates derogation | Newstalk
Michael McGrath has said the European Commission has recommended to extend the nitrates derogatio...
www.newstalk.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I spoke to Pat Kenny earlier about the derogation decision
'In theory, we should only get the derogation on the condition that it not impact on water quality. We’re not holding up our end of the bargain, and we haven’t for decades '
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
'In theory, we should only get the derogation on the condition that it not impact on water quality. We’re not holding up our end of the bargain, and we haven’t for decades '
www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Dr. @elainemcgoff.bsky.social:
"This derogation decision is meant to be based on science, but the evidence is very clear that we have a serious nitrogen pollution problem in Ireland & the measures we’re putting in place to address that are not working”
Yet again agri power trumps pollution reality.
"This derogation decision is meant to be based on science, but the evidence is very clear that we have a serious nitrogen pollution problem in Ireland & the measures we’re putting in place to address that are not working”
Yet again agri power trumps pollution reality.
Water quality key condition as appeal to extend nitrates derogation goes to vote
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Water quality key condition as appeal to extend nitrates derogation goes to vote
European Commission proposed granting Government’s request to continue derogation from nitrates regulations
www.irishtimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Dr. @elainemcgoff.bsky.social:
"This derogation decision is meant to be based on science, but the evidence is very clear that we have a serious nitrogen pollution problem in Ireland & the measures we’re putting in place to address that are not working”
Yet again agri power trumps pollution reality.
"This derogation decision is meant to be based on science, but the evidence is very clear that we have a serious nitrogen pollution problem in Ireland & the measures we’re putting in place to address that are not working”
Yet again agri power trumps pollution reality.
This quote from Rebecca Solnit is exactly what I needed to read today.
November 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
This quote from Rebecca Solnit is exactly what I needed to read today.
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
You may have heard about Ireland looking for a "nitrates derogation" in the news. But what does it mean? Why are nitrates a problem? Why does the government want Ireland to be allowed to use more than the normal limits?🤔
Read our explainer and take the action. 💙💦🙌
swanireland.ie/nitrates-pol...
Read our explainer and take the action. 💙💦🙌
swanireland.ie/nitrates-pol...
Nitrates Pollution - Sustainable Water Network
Here’s what’s happening with nitrates in Ireland and what you can do to help stop this pollutant. Nearly half (44%) of our rivers have nitrate concentrations that are too high. The biggest cause is a...
swanireland.ie
November 27, 2025 at 5:31 PM
You may have heard about Ireland looking for a "nitrates derogation" in the news. But what does it mean? Why are nitrates a problem? Why does the government want Ireland to be allowed to use more than the normal limits?🤔
Read our explainer and take the action. 💙💦🙌
swanireland.ie/nitrates-pol...
Read our explainer and take the action. 💙💦🙌
swanireland.ie/nitrates-pol...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
The European Commission failed to follow proper lawmaking procedure when drafting its plan to cut red tape, the EU ombudsman said in a damaging assessment released today.
EU watchdog slams Commission over red-tape cutting workflow
European Ombudsman hits the executive for “procedural shortcomings” in its attempt to quickly pass legislative amendments to simplify rules for business.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2025 at 10:23 AM
The European Commission failed to follow proper lawmaking procedure when drafting its plan to cut red tape, the EU ombudsman said in a damaging assessment released today.
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Our great Advocacy team were invited to attend a Joint Oireachtas Committee session on solar regulations last night, and highlighted the importance of early public participation, and ecologically-sensitive siting of solar farms
For more:
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
For more:
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
November 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Our great Advocacy team were invited to attend a Joint Oireachtas Committee session on solar regulations last night, and highlighted the importance of early public participation, and ecologically-sensitive siting of solar farms
For more:
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
For more:
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
Reposted by Elaine McGoff
Deregulation is not the answer, despite what some billionaires (!!!) say. Not in planning, not for environmental protection, and not for human rights. But there is a concerted push to present this tried & failed approach as a new, high-tech innovation. It isn't.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Lorcan Sirr: Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer
We have seen before how cutting ‘red tape’ leads to disaster, especially in planning and housing
www.irishtimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Deregulation is not the answer, despite what some billionaires (!!!) say. Not in planning, not for environmental protection, and not for human rights. But there is a concerted push to present this tried & failed approach as a new, high-tech innovation. It isn't.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...