Effective Judicial Protection and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive in Ireland

1 Introduction
I. Importance of Effective Enforcement at Local Level
II. Alternative Remedies
III. Planning and Development Acts
IV. Aarhus Convention
V. Structure of the Book
VI. Note on Terminology
2 The EIA Directive and Environmental Protection
I. Introduction
II. Sustainable Development
A. European Community Perspective
B. Irish Perspective
III. Environmental Impact Assessment as a Mechanism For Environmental Protection
IV. Role of Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making
V. EIA Directive
VI. Aarhus Convention
VII. Implications of Aarhus Convention for European Community EIA Law
A. Public Participation
B. Access to Justice
VIII. Strategic Environmental Assessment
A. European Community Perspective
B. Irish Perspective
IX. Closing Observations
3 The ECJ and National Procedural Rules and Remedies
I. Introduction
II. General Principles
III. Principle of Effective Judicial Protection
A. Evolution
B. Future Directions
C. Specific Themes
IV. Impact of Aarhus Convention
V. Impact of European Convention on Human Rights
A. ECHR and Irish Law
B. Implications for Judicial Review
VI. Closing Observations
4 The ECJ and the EIA Directive
I. Introduction
II. The ECJ's General Approach to the EIA Directive
A. Transitional Arrangements
B. Project Categorisation
C. Prior Authorisation
D. Development Consent
E. Stage of Development Consent Procedure at which EIA Must be Carried Out
III. The ECJ's Approach to Member State Discretion Under the EIA Directive
A. Exemptions
B. Assessment Procedure
C. Determining the Annex II Projects that Require Assessment
D. Detailed Arrangements for Public Participation
E. Summary
IV. Role of the EIA Directive in Judicial Review Proceedings at National Level
A. Overview
B. Justiciability of the EIA Directive before National Courts
C. Standard of Review to be Applied by National Courts
D. Substantial Compliance
E. Horizontal Effect or Consequential Adverse Impact?
F. Consistent Interpretation
G. State Liability
V. Closing Observations
5 The EIA Directive in the Irish Courts
I. Introduction
II. Overview of National Legal Framework
A. General Provisions
B. Planning Applications for Strategic Infrastructure
C. Special Statutory Framework Governing Judicial Review
D. Rule in Henderson v Henderson
E. Judicial Discretion
F. Costs
III. Irish EIA Jurisprudence
A. Grappling with Direct Effect
B. Consistent Interpretation
C. Minimalist Approach to Obligations Created in the EIA Directive
D. Judicial Deference
E. Substantial Compliance
F. Impact of National Procedural Rules
G. Concept of 'Development Consent'
H. Intersection between Planning and Pollution Control
I. Interrelationship between Domestic Proceedings and Commission Enforcement Activity
J. Appraisal
IV. Impact of Article 10a
A. Hope and Anticipation
B. Legislative Measures
C. Judicial Implementation
V. Closing Observations
6 Conclusion