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