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Irish Examiner - 17-01-04 By Mary Dundon, Political Reporter – Irish Examiner OPPOSITION parties called on Health Minister Micheál
Martin yesterday to stop "washing his hands" of incineration after
An Bord Pleanála gave the go-ahead to the country's first toxic waste
incinerator at Ringaskiddy in Cork.As Minister for Health and Cork's
most senior politician, Mr Martin must use his position in Cabinet
to change Government policy that favours incineration, Green Party
deputy Dan Boyle said. "It is ironic that Mr Martin is promoting a ban on smoking
in public places and he does nothing to stop a huge smoke pollutant
being constructed in his own constituency," Deputy Boyle added. Justice Minister "If Mr McDowell is prepared to challenge Minister Cullen
why is our local minister not prepared to do the same?" the Cork South
Central deputy said. Fine Gael Deputy Simon Coveney called on Mr Martin to
question how a Government-funded body can ignore the advice of its
own senior inspectors. "The minister cannot wash his hands of this decision
the Government must now review how An Bord Pleanála functions and
makes its decisions," Deputy Coveney said. But Mr Martin rejected claims that he was "washing his
hands" of incineration and said he did not believe the hazardous waste
incinerator will pose a health threat to local residents. "There is no evidence to date to show that the existing
five incinerators in Ringaskiddy have had an adverse impact on people's
health in terms of higher incidences of cancer in the area," Mr Martin
said. The Government cannot influence An Bord Pleanála's decision
because it is an independent body, he added. He said the country is facing significant difficulties
in waste management disposal and our EU colleagues cannot be expected
to receive and treat our hazardous waste forever. But the minister added: "I've always had reservations
about this particular site, Ringaskiddy is home to 60% of the country's
pharmaceutical industries and the residents have borne their fair
share of industrial development." Meanwhile, Green Party Deputy Dan Boyle accused An Bord
Pleanála of caving into political pressure from Environment Minister
Martin Cullen because of his threat to give some of their powers to
a new National Infrastructure Board. Labour councilor John Mulvihill said the decision is
a kick in the teeth for local democracy when 10 faceless people in
An Bord Pleanála can overturn councillors' decisions. Fine Gael's Environment spokesman Bernard Allen called
on Mr Cullen to examine An Bord Pleanála's decision and said the board
must come before Cork County Council to explain its decision. But Mr Cullen said he could not overrule An Bord Pleanála's
decision because it was an independent body. Now the EU has put "Incineration is part of the solution to our waste management
problem a lot of myths and legends have been put out about it that
are totally without foundation, the old mass burners are gone and
now we have cutting-edge technology," he told RTÉ. Mr Cullen rejected claims that the toxic waste incinerator
would be a threat to public safety or health. |
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Cork
Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment |