The Opposition yesterday denounced the granting of planning permission for a toxic waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy, with some accusing An Bord Pleanála of caving in to political pressure from the Government. Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent, reports.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said he always had "concerns" about the proposed site given the high density of pharmaceutical companies located there. The proposed location for the incinerator is in Mr Martin's Cork South Central constituency.
He said he planned to read the Bord Pleanála report in detail before commenting further, but noted that the board's planning inspectorate had raised a number of objections.
Asked if he would intervene on the issue with the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, Mr Martin said it was matter for An Bord Pleanála, which was an independent body. Mr Cullen is an enthusiastic supporter of incineration as a part-solution to the waste problem.
Fine Gael's environment spokesman, Mr Bernard Allen, demanded that Bord Pleanála make a full statement justifying its decision and explaining why it has overruled its planning inspectorate's recommendations.
He said Bord Pleanála's inspectorate had given 14 reasons for opposing the planning application. It had also said it would contravene the county development plan.
"I am calling on Environment Minister Martin Cullen to examine Bord Pleanála's decision. And I am calling on Bord Pleanála to come before Cork County Council to explain their reasons for overruling their inspectorate", said Mr Allen.
The Labour Party leader in the Seanad, Senator Brendan Ryan, said the decision would reverse the correct priorities in waste management. "This country has no effective policy on toxic waste management reduction, no effective policy on toxic waste reuse or recycling, and no effective policy to deal with toxic waste which is generated outside the tightly-regulated industry sector," he said.
"We now have a policy which will create an incentive to generate such waste and will create enormous fear and anger in the whole region in the vicinity of Ringaskiddy. As a chemical engineer and a resident of the area, I regard this decision as wrong, both technically and in terms of good environmental policy."
The Green Party TD for Cork South Central, Mr Dan Boyle, accused An Bord Pleanála of "caving in to political pressure from the Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen". Mr Cullen had threatened to introduce a National Infrastructure Board "because An Bord Pleanála has not delivered the planning decisions the Minister has wanted.
"There can be no doubt that this is a political decision by An Bord Pleanála, as they have overturned the 14 grounds for refusal listed by the appointed inspector who oversaw the four-week oral hearing."
Mr Boyle said decisions like this would not convince the people of Ringaskiddy, the Cork Harbour area and the public in general, that an effective and fair planning process exists.
"This battle now moves to its next stage, where the many thousands who have campaigned against this incinerator will look for something in the planning, political and judicial process that can deliver them true justice."
PD Senator Mr John Minihan, whose political base is in neighbouring Cork North Central, said people were now regularly "flabbergasted" by planning decisions.
The fact that An Bord Pleanála had gone against a strong opinion by the planning inspectorate was "another example of why the planning appeals process has to be looked at". While not expressing a view on the merits or otherwise of the incinerator plan, he said the decision was "disappointing for the local community".
The Green Party's Dublin MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, said the decision was "in flagrant breach of EU law".
She said she would arrange a meeting between anti-incinerator groups and EU Environment Commissioner Margot Walstrom, to allow them complain about the way the EU's environmental impact directive is being implemented here.
"An Bord Pleanála seems to be duty bound to follow Government policy, even if it goes against their own inspector's advice. It begs the question what is the point in having expert advice if the board is simply going to ignore it."
Sinn Féin's environment spokesman, Mr Arthur Morgan, said the decision was "deeply disappointing. This is quite simply an appalling decision. An Bord Pleanála's decision was taken against the advice and recommendations of the board's own senior planning adviser, Mr Philip Jones. The decision is at odds with the Cork Development Plan and the Cork Area Strategic Plan."
Mr Morgan said the people had legitimate health fears about the incinerator project, as an incinerator in Antwerp run by Indaver had been shut down because it had failed consistently to show it could control dioxin emissions.
"A line of incinerators across the State will require a constant feed of waste, providing no incentive for people to produce less waste. The incineration industry is harmful to health and is totally unnecessary. The vast majority of people in this State do not want this incinerator. It is not an acceptable tool of waste management. Incineration flies in the face of any real environmental waste management strategy. The views of communities simply cannot be ignored in this matter."
What they said
"I am calling on Bord Pleanála to come before Cork County Council to explain their reasons for overruling their inspectorate"
- Mr Bernard Allen TD, Fine Gael
"As a chemical engineer and a resident of the area, I regard this decision as wrong, both technically and in terms of good environmental policy"
- Senator Brendan Ryan, Labour
"This battle now moves to its next stage, where the many who have campaigned against this incinerator will look for something that can deliver them true justice"
- Mr Dan Boyle TD, Green Party