LAST month’s approval of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) by the EU’s environment ministers could yet end up before the European Court of Justice, an Irish farming organisation has stated.

The controversial legislation only survived the vote on Monday, June 17 last, by the minimum margin after the Austrian Environment Minister went against the instructions of her Chancellor (Prime Minister) to support the law.

Austrian Chancellor, Karl Nehammer, of the Austrian Peoples Party (OVP), had instructed his  Environment Minister, Leonore Gewessler (Green Party) not to vote in favour of the new law – however on June 17, she went against the instruction and voted to support the legislation.

However, last week the Austrian Chancellor and his OVP party, indicated that they would be bringing a legal challenge to the European Court of Justice, seeking an annulment of the vote on the basis that the country’s Environment Minister voted against the instructions of her own government.

Now, according to the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA), the Irish Government should ‘pause the development’ of member states nature restoration plans, pending the outcome of the European Court of Justice decision.

INHFA President, Vincent Roddy, said that his association had written to the European Commission asking them to hold the law in abeyance until the lawfulness of the vote has been adjudicated upon by the European Court of Justice.

“The Austrian challenge [to the legality of the vote], will be taken to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and we expect it to be made on the basis that Austria’s Environment Minister voted contrary to the instructions of her Chancellor,” said Vincent Roddy.

Pictured: INHFA President, Vincent Roddy