A Wexford-based junior minister yesterday welcomed the decision of an anti-incineration group to contest the general election, although he acknowledged his own vote would be affected.
Mr Hugh Byrne, the Minister of State for the Marine, said the decision of the New Rossbased Research And Information Group (RAIG) to put forward a candidate would threaten his re-election prospects. "My own personal vote will be affected, there is no doubt about that."
Mr Byrne will be in direct opposition to the group as he is also based in the New Ross area, but he welcomed RAIG "on board".
"It will focus attention on the problem of waste management and create a greater awareness in the area. Recycling is getting only token attention from the Government and serious money will have to be put into it. We should have done it much earlier."
RAIG says it will support an independent candidate who will bring forward a broad range of policies, including one on waste management which does not include incineration. Its decision followed a meeting with Mr Byrne at the weekend at which he confirmed he would support the Waste Management (Amendment) Bill in the Dail next week.
The Bill proposes to remove responsibility for waste management plans from elected representatives and give it to county and city managers.
Mr Joe Bridges, a member of RAIG, says the Bill will not only lead to the building of waste incinerators but it takes from elected councillors power to make decisions affecting their communities.
The chairman of the group, Dr Michael Prendergast, says that by supporting the Bill Government politicians are putting party priorities before the concerns of local communities. "In contrast, an independent candidate will provide people at local level with a voice to shape development and policies in their own county."
Another Fianna Fail TD in the constituency expressed his surprise at the group's decision to put forward a candidate.
Mr John Browne says the group has secured the co-operation of all political parties until now, but its decision to enter the political arena meant it would now be seen as "the opposition".