Date for your diary:

🚴 | Public Meeting of the Galway Cycling Campaign, a local group of @irishcyclingcmpn.bsky.social.

Tuesday March 3rd 7:30pm

Staff Club, Quadrangle, University of Galway.

#IrishEnergyTransition

State to work with energy and internet firms on subsea security under Ireland's first National Maritime Security Strategy.

www.businesspost.ie/politics/sta...

If you are of a certain age and you enjoy a bit of a shout at the telly this is on on Monday. #Speirgorm

This afternoon I chaired the meeting of the Oireachtas Cross Party Group on Cancer today, where we heard from Dr Finbar MacCarthy on the high number of patients breaching waiting times for urgent colonoscopies and from Prof. Gerry Hanna on the need to replace our radiation therapy machines.

Renewables cut energy costs by €1.5bn last year - report Renewable energy from wind and solar reduced the gas and carbon costs of generating electricity on the island of Ireland last year by more than €1.5 billion, according to a new report.

A total of €1.1 billion, or 72%, of the savings accrued in the Republic of Ireland.
#IrishEnergyTransition

share.google/L7ov1q2VsfFo...

One of the best things about Dave’s really interesting podcast is that he also provides text versions which I super appreciate for those times when I don’t feel up to or don’t have time for listening

I also **love** that things get explained without getting dumbed down

Good evening celebrating the artists that recieved bursaries & groups for arts projects
Over €800,000 granted this year from @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social Arts office. Very competitive with so many applications we need to increase budget even more next year Looking forward to seeing new work 2026-27

Volts is *essential* listening for our times. And not just for climate and energy obsessives.

Each episode somehow manages to get way down in the weeds AND remain very engaging (no easy feat), with no punches pulled.

Subscribe if you want to become a better, more informed, clear-eyed citizen.

#SpeirGorm

A stacked area chart of the electricity generation mix on the island of Ireland with the following fuel types: battery, pumped storage, biomass, waste-to-energy, hydro, solar, wind, oil, and gas. There is also a black line showing electricity demand. Footnote reads: All-island figures. Excludes rooftop solar. Source: EirGrid, SEMO

Renewable generation and discharging storage equalled 61% of yesterday's electricity demand, with a peak of 74% at 17:15. Fossil fuel generation (mostly gas) equalled 30% of demand. 0% of generation was exported, 9% of demand was met by imports.

Love this! It’s clearly talking about the same problem a world away from Ireland but it highlights that storm water run off and its effects are a local issue around the world #spongeCities

Emissions fall but due to falling herd numbers as nitrogen usage rises Any reduction in emissions from the agricultural sector last year will be mainly due to reduced cattle numbers as nitrogen usage continues to increase.

Latest figures show a total failure of policy to deal with agriculture emissions

www.independent.ie/farming/fore...

Locals protest against company’s opposition to Dublin public-transport scheme Petrol station is located on the proposed Blanchardstown-to-Dublin city centre BusConnects corridor

Locals protest against company’s opposition to Dublin public-transport scheme

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dubl...

Public transport project being held up by a petrol station taking JR, locals protest.

They've also been in breach of their planning permission over the last five years for incredibly bright lights shining into people's houses and using fake trees instead of real landscaping.

The people here have had enough and they want safer streets.

I spoke to the Irish Times earlier about the situation on Old Cabra Road where a petrol station owned by Lissan Coal Company is preventing the delivery of safe pedestrian and cycle infrastructure and faster bus journey times because it affects their commercial profits.

Tangle Net Fishing Tangle Net Fishing for Crayfish is sweeping up other critically endangered species as “by-catch”. How do we save Angel Sharks from extinction while preserving fishermen incomes and coastal communities...

Good overview of the tangle net issue from @philipb-h.bsky.social this morning with input from fishermen and scientists.

Dept. of Ag. officials will appear at the Joint Oireachtas Committee next week to answer for their inaction.

www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

#BiodiversityLoss

Government failing to consider how key policies are damaging climate, says UN expert Plans for LNG, Dublin Airport passenger cap and data-centre expansion ‘need scrutiny’

“A worrying narrative was developing in Government and business circles in which environmental defenders were “stigmatised”.

UN special rapporteur slams Ireland’s eco backsliding on airport expansion, nitrates derogation & demonising of environmental defenders.

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

“Says Hogan: “If it is safe enough to eat, it should be okay for footpaths.””

We’d like to challenge Councillor Hogan to drink a glass of Glyphosphate then!

KFC, Nando's, and others ditch chicken welfare pledge as demand soars Wingstop, Burger King, and others have walked away from an industry commitment to avoid using fast-growing chickens

KFC, Nando's, Burger King and others ditch chicken welfare pledge.

It is about profits.

They prefer "franken-chickens" which mature quicker but have higher rates of premature death and muscle disease.

What are people eating?

Customers not told anything about chicken welfare.

Dublin City Council plans another sub-standard width cycle path on primary route -- Design includes shared pedestrian/cycling crossings at Phoenix Park access points.-- No protection provided at left turn onto South Circular Road at Island Bridge. Dublin City Council's Active Travel Office is planning to use sub-standard cycle path widths on the new planned Chapelizod Road and Conyngham Road Active Travel Scheme, which is a primary route in the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network plan.

Dublin City Council plans another sub-standard width cycle path on primary route

-- Design includes shared pedestrian/cycling crossings at Phoenix Park access points.-- No protection provided at left turn onto South Circular Road at Island Bridge. Dublin City Council's Active Travel Office is…

Janet addresses the crowd

Roderic addresses the crowd

Roderic hugs Janet

Quiz crowd

Thanks to everyone who packed into Hedigans/The Brian Boru for @janetphorner.bsky.social’s quiz night

Green party’s Roderic O’Gorman, Eva Dowling, Janet Horner and Adam Devine pose with a ballot box at TU Dublin

Did you know that more people can now vote in Seanad election?

Register before the 26th of February here:

seanadvoter.ie

@rodericogorman.bsky.social @younggreens.ie @evadowling.bsky.social @janetphorner.bsky.social

Were the developers behind this solar farm invited for comment on the safety steps taken to ensure there would be reduced risk of energy cascade? was an energy expert with a specialisation in long term storage asked to discuss lithium ion batteries? www.rte.ie/news/connach... @rte.ie

Pod of this week's Last Word on the environment with Matt Cooper on Today FM is now available.

We discussed initiative to arrest decline in hedgehog numbers, plus we looked at how councillors are still trying to rezone land on flood plains

www.todayfm.com/podcasts/the...

Ireland's first four-hour battery storage system launched Statkraft, the largest producer of renewable energy in Europe, has launched Ireland's first ever four-hour grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System beside its windfarm at Cushaling in Co Offaly.

Interestingly, by providing electricity during peak demand, this will better balance the electricity grid, and allow more renewables to be used. www.rte.ie/news/2026/02...

I asked the Parks department to plant some more trees on the green spaces in Walkinstown. It's been slow work because of the rain, but good progress made and more to come!

#IrishEnergyTransition