Key Issues in Planning and Environmental Law

John Gore-Grimes is a Solicitor who has specialised in Planning and Environmental Law for most of his years since qualification. He learned much from the late Eamonn Walse, an eminent Senior Counsel and an author of one of the first authorative books on planning law. Later John worked closely with the former Chief Justice Ronan Keane in planning and planning related matters. Ronan Keane's text book on planning law was one of the leading Irish works on the topic. Working with Ronan involved a steep learning curve which was, at times, difficult to keep up with. With the publication of the Planning and Development Act 2000 the Legislature made a brave attempt to catch up with the fast developing issues in planning and environmental practice to include a host of new environmental issues which had arrived on Ireland's doorstep from Brussels. The efforts made by the Government in its attempt to improve the quality of life by imposing necessary restrictions on development and on the use of land and structures were always a few steps behind but that was inevitable in the face of such rapid development. In 2002 John published his first volume, "Key Issues in Planning and Environmental Law" published by Bloomsbury (then known as Butterworths). In just 10 years it was time to introduce more advanced legislation to cover development issues produced by the "Celtic Tiger" years and this was achieved by the commencement of the Planning & Development (Amendment) Act 2010. That Act introduced sweeping changes and once again it attempted to keep pace with the ever increasing number of treaties and conventions from Brussels, mainly dealing with environmental issues. John put pen to paper once more and three years later a second title emerged namely, "Planning and Environmental Law in Ireland" which was once again published by Bloomsbury Professional in July 2011. Apart from Planning and Environmental Law John has spent time sailing to and about the high latitude areas of the Artic and the Antarctic. He has observed, first hand, the dramatic affects of the ice retreat caused by global warming. The cover picture of his second volume portrays what may be left of the land mass of Ireland if water levels rise to the worst case scenario.