Minister for the Environment John Gormley outlined a radical shift in Ireland's environmental policy yesterday at his first EU council of ministers meeting.
Citing the fight against climate change as his key goal while in office, the Green Party TD pledged not to allow incineration to become the "cornerstone of Irish waste policy". Mr Gormley also told journalists he would oppose genetically modified organisms (GMs) in votes at council.
"Our position is clear on this - we want GM-free status for Ireland," said Mr Gormley, signalling a break from past policy.
"A small country like Ireland that exports food, a country that still has the image of being clean and green, would benefit enormously."
During the talks in Luxembourg, the Minister intervened in support of Austria, which is a trenchant opponent of GMs.
Ireland's anti-GM stance also found expression this week when it voted against legalising a GM maize product called Herculex. The Government was previously expected to vote in favour of legalising the maize but instead abstained from the vote.
The switch helped other anti-GM states block the proposal and was criticised by the Irish Farmers' Association.
Earlier Mr Gormley displayed a change of style by taking time out from the EU meeting to chat about policies with Greenpeace protesters at the security fence.
"This is nothing new for me," he told The Irish Times. "I want to engage with people and hear their views, and maybe if that is different then perhaps it signals a change."
But back at the negotiating table Mr Gormley was given a quick lesson in how building alliances is key to success in Europe.
He opposed key elements of the EU waste directive that would give incineration an elevated status in the Union, equal to the status of recycling.
"We don't see incineration as recovery, we see it as disposal," said Mr Gormley, who warned that if burning waste was given the same classification as recycling, it would be a huge boost for the incineration industry and would undermine sustainable alternatives.
Yet a few hours later the Government had been outvoted on the directive. At the meeting, Mr Gormley highlighted the fact that Ireland exports 83 per cent of its waste, mostly because it lacks adequate levels of recycling and incineration capacity.
Asked about how he would cope with the waste problem, he talked about extending opening hours at recycling facilities.
He also reiterated that he could not prevent the building of incinerators that had already received planning permission.
Casting aside his party's previous nervousness about EU treaties, Mr Gormley also said he would support the proposed new EU "reform treaty" if it contained the Charter of Fundamental Rights, a document outlining a broad range of rights for citizens.