STATEMENT BY CIARAN LYNCH TD
Labour Party TD, Cork South Central - Tuesday, 11 November 2008
AWARD OF COSTS AGAINST CORK HARBOUR RESIDENTS, A BACKWARD STEP

Today's Supreme Court decision to award costs to the State and Indaver
against residents of the Cork Harbour area will send out a shockwave to
local groups all over the country, as to financial implications of sticking
up for their own area and their own community.

This decision will undermine the concept and the principle of the
participation by community groups in public debate and public campaigns,
and as a result, the planning process is in danger of becoming a charter
for the rich and powerful.

CHASE motivations have always been to act in the public interest and they
took this case for the important purpose of clarifying the law and ensuring
proper planning.

I welcome the indications by the EPA and An Bord Pleanala, that they will
not be pursuing costs, and I am now calling on Green Party Environment
Minister John Gormley, and indeed on Indaver, to make similar indications
of intention.

We have seen Green Party public representatives build their careers by
representing groups such as CHASE, but who in the cold light of day, once
in Govt, are found to be little more than careerist politicians.

ENDS