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Intensive Environmental Law Courses 2024

The Law School, Trinity College Dublin is delighted to announce a number of Intensive Environmental Law Courses 2024, directed by Prof. Yvonne Scannell.


Summary

These intensive courses are designed to give delegates short, simple, structured overviews of the topics covered and to alert them to the important legal requirements to keep in mind when dealing with projects. There will be case studies and participative hypotheticals to illustrate learnings. A certificate of attendance will be awarded to all participants. These are high demand courses so early booking is highly recommended.

The series will cover areas such as:

  1. Habitats Directive;
  2. Environmental Impact Assessment;
  3. the Water Framework Directive; and
  4. the New Planning Act

All courses will be delivered by experts in the field.

Programmes Content

The Habitats Directive, Appropriate Assessments and Species Protection - Thursday, 9 May 2024

What is a European site? The duty to ensure the integrity of European sites. What projects that must be screened for AA? What are mitigation measures? Can mitigation measures be taken into account in screening? When is AA needed? What is a significant effect? What is likely to have a significant effect? What is best scientific evidence? Has the public a right to participate? Can activities outside a European site result in adverse effects in the site? When do projects outside European sites have to be assessed? The legal requirements for a screening decision. The legal requirements for a decision on an AA. What happens if there is going to be a significant effect on a European site? What are reasons of overriding public importance? When does the decision have to go to Europe? Judicial Reviews.

The Protection of Species: What is disturbance of protected species? Must disturbance be assessed in EIA? When must derogations be obtained? Who gives the derogations? Shadowmill. Reasons for and reasoning of decisions. Leading EU and Irish cases on habitats. Moderated case study for participants.

Further information available in due course.

Environmental Impact Assessment - Thursday, 27 June 2024

When is EIA required? Development types and subthreshold development. What is a project? When is screening necessary? What projects must be screened for EIA? Preliminary Examinations for Screening. Adequacy of preliminary examination? Can mitigation measures be taken into account in screening?. The legal requirements for the screening decision. What is scoping? Is scoping mandatory? What must the EIA address? What is likely to have a significant effect? What is a significant effect? The legal requirements for the assessment. EIA and protected species. EIA and climate. Can mitigation measures be taken into account in carrying out EIA? Judicial Reviews. Time limits. An analysis of Shadowmill v An Bord Pleanála. Reasons for and reasoning of decisions. Leading EU and Irish cases on EIA. Moderated case study for participants.

Further information available in due course.

Complying with the Water Framework Directive - Date to be confirmed

What is the WFD? What are the objectives of the WFD? How is it implemented in Ireland? Must all waters be categorized in RBMPs? What waters are covered by the Directive? Does the WFD apply to marine waters? What is the status of a waterbody? Must projects be refused consent if the waterbody has not been given a status? What is the main obligation under the WFD? What is good surface water status? What is good groundwater status? What is a heavily modified water body? Differences in requirements for HMWB's. When is a prior assessment required? What is a deterioration in status? When can a derogation be obtained? What is the significance of river basin management plans? Reasons for and reasoning of decisions. Judicial reviews. Leading Irish and EU cases. Moderated case study for participants.

Further information available in due course.

The New Planning Act - Date to be confirmed

The major changes to the existing system. Two day intensive course.

Further information available in due course.

Bookings and Fees

Bookings:

  • Individual Registration Forms will be available on each of the course website. To register your interest now, please email lawevent@tcd.ie specifying your course of choice.
  • Enquires can also be made by telephone to 01-8962772. Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. Yvonne Scannell by telephone: 087 9039666.

    • Fees:

  • €300 per course for Habitats Directive, Environmental Impact Assessment, Water Framework Directive.
  • €500 for New Planning Act 2 day Intensive Course.

    • Tea/Coffee will be provided at the courses. Lunch will not be provided.

    Terms and Conditions

    Fees are not refundable but delegates may be substituted on giving notice to the organisers. All materials are copyright. Trinity College, Dublin University and the lecturers are not responsible for the accuracy of any statements made in papers or in lectures and delegates should not rely on any materials distributed or statements made in any way. Proceeds from these courses are for the new Law School.