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PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: October 1, 2003

COBH GP APPEALS TO MINISTER FOR IMMEDIATE HEALTH STUDY  FOR HARBOUR
DAY 8 INCINERATOR HEARING

On Day 8, 1 October, 2003, of the Bord Pleanala hearing into the Hazardous Waste Incinerator proposal for Ringaskiddy, Co Cork,  Cobh GP - Dr George FitzGerald called on the Minister for Health to commission a full, Government funded, scientific survey of the health of the people of Cobh and other Harbour Areas, which was one of the recommendations of the Health Review Board (HRB) report into incineration and landfill.  He told the hearing that health services are already at breaking point. He could not see how they could cope with any further load as a result of health effects of industrial emissions or accidents

Cllr Peter Kelly, leader of the Fine Gael party in Cork County Council also addressed the Bord, and pointed out that contrary to a necessity for an enormous 100 thousand ton toxic incinerator, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) figures indicate that there would be approximately 15 thousand tons of hazardous waste available for incineration in Cork.  The National Hazardous Waste Management Plan put this figure at less than 12 thousand tons.

Cllr Kelly also told the hearing that there would be no new road to alleviate their traffic jams for 12 to 20 years.  Traffic volumes from industry, the car ferries, the old Hamond Lane metal recycling site and port warehouses already clog the Ringaskiddy and Shanbally roads the hearing had earlier been told. Ringaskiddy parents had described the nightmare of crossing roads and getting children to school as things are, without lorries carrying dangerous loads of toxic waste for an incinerator being added to the equation.

----- ENDS ---- 

For further information contact:
Linda Fitzpatrick, CHASE PRO   Tel: 021 4374506  Mobile: 087 741084
Mary O’Leary, Chairperson, CHASE    Tel: 021 4811952  Mobile: 086 8177737

 
CHASE - Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment, 1 Lower Midleton Street, Cobh, Cork
Tel: 021 481 5564
- Email: info@chaseireland.org