Protect our Health, Water & Biodiversity from Pesticides

Hosted by The Environmental Forum, Pesticide Action Network Europe, Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and Environmental Pillar.

Where: The Gibson Hotel (Point Square, North Wall, Dublin, D01 X2P2, Ireland) & Online

When: 6 October 2026, 10:00 - 14:00 (GMT+1)

Language: English

Programme:

Chair/Moderator: Ella McSweeney, journalist and broadcaster

10.00 - 10.05: Welcome/Opening: Bernadette Connolly (TEF), Gergely Simon (PAN Europe)

10.05 - 10.25: Food and Feed Safety Simplification Package – what is relevant for plant protection products? - Mr Klaus Berend, Director, Food Safety, Sustainability and Innovation, DG SANTE, European Commission

10.25 - 10.40: Irish Regulatory Perspective on Pesticides. Anne Marie Dillon, Head of Pesticide Controls Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

10.40 - 10.55: PAN Europe - European NGOs' position on the Omnibus deregulation package - Dr Martin Dermine, Executive Director of PAN Europe 

10.55 - 11.10: Q&A 

11.10 - 11.40: The Prevalence of Pesticides

  • From Pesticide Sources to Water Quality: Unravelling Pollution Pathways in Ireland for a Zero-Pollution, One Health Future - Professor Fiona Regan, Dublin City University
  • The Earth’s Gut, Our Gut: The Intangible Untangleable Web of Microbial Relations - Dr Rupa Marya, Trinity College Dublin
  • Pesticides and pollinators; non-target impacts of pesticides on biodiversity - Dr Dara Stanley, University College Dublin

11.40 - 12.00:  Coffee Break

12.00 - 12.55: How to achieve effective regulation - Panel Discussion

  • Thomas O’Connor, Manna Organic Farm & Talamh Beo
  • Ross MacDonald, Source Protection Officer, Stranooden Group Water Scheme
  • Dr Martin Dermine, Pesticide Action Network, Europe   
  • Professor Fiona O’Regan, Dublin City University
  • Dr Rupa Marya, Trinity College Dublin 
  • Dr Dara Stanley, University College Dublin

12.55 - 13.00: Closing of conference

13.00: Lunch

RECORDING HERE

© Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), Rue de la Pacification 67, 1000, Brussels, Belgium, Tel. +32 2 318 62 55

Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the European Union, European Commission, DG Environment, LIFE programme. Sole responsibility for this publication lies with the authors and the funders are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.