An environmental group has reacted angrily to comments by a county manager that a controversial proposal for a Eur 80 million toxic waste incinerator will be passed by An Bord Pleanála in the event that it is rejected by members of Cork County Council on Monday next.
Mr Maurice Moloney made the comment ahead of a crucial meeting on Monday, where councillors will be asked to vote in favour of a material contravention of the County Development Plan, to allow the incinerator at Ringaskiddy to go ahead.
Under the existing plan, which designates the town for port-related industries and major water uses, there is no provision for an incineration facility.
Council officials will seek a material contravention of the plan on Monday to allow a proposal by Indaver Ireland for the State's first toxic-waste incinerator to be built.
If 75 per cent of Cork councillors vote in favour of the contravention next month it will open he way for planning permission for the project.
According to a lobby group, Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE, the comments by Mr Moloney were presumptuous and arrogant and should not have been made ahead of Monday's crucial meeting.
A CHASE spokeswoman, Ms Linda Fitzpatrick, said: "He said that only 62 per cent of the nation's hazardous waste is produced in Cork, but that fails to take account of the waste that will be produced at this incinerator if it goes ahead."