Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have just been handed a copy of the article in question. In the early stages of the Aarhus Convention being brought into effect in Irish law, I was one of several people who took a case seeking a not prohibitively expensive order to protect us from legal costs given that we were community activists at the time. It is important that communities, individuals and environmental organisations have the right to take legal proceedings without being unduly affected. That is what the Aarhus Convention is about. It is about access to environmental justice, access in a way that is timely and access to environmental information. It is vital that we have fair and transparent judicial and planning systems. Again, I thank the Senator for raising this important issue.