[Sinn Fein]

1 August 2001

Sinn Féin TD slams incinerator approval Ê

TheÊ decisionÊ by Meath County Council to approve a planning application by IndaverÊ IrelandÊ forÊ aÊ wasteÊ incineratorÊ atÊ Carronstown,Ê Duleek,Ê onÊ the Meath/LouthÊ countyÊ border,Ê hasÊ beenÊ slammedÊ by Cavan/Monaghan Dáil Deputy, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.Ê TheÊ SinnÊ FéinÊ TDÊ has described this announcement as "disturbing but not unexpected".Ê He said: Ê "GivenÊ theÊ decisionÊ byÊ Minister Dempsey and his Fianna Fáil/Progressive DemocratÊÊ cabinetÊ colleaguesÊ toÊ dumpÊ democracyÊ withÊ theÊ passageÊ ofÊ the mis-describedÊ WasteÊ ManagementÊ (Amendment) Bill, there can be little surprise thatÊ plansÊ wereÊ alreadyÊ wellÊ advancedÊ toÊ caterÊ toÊ theÊ demandsÊ ofÊ the pro-incineratorÊ lobby.Ê ThatÊ the elected voices of the people of Co. Louth had rejectedÊ such a proposal and had their decision affirmed in the High Court, has countedÊ forÊ nought with this Minister and Government. The important amendments thatÊ IÊ andÊ myÊ SinnÊ FéinÊ colleagues in Monaghan County Council successfully steeredÊ throughÊ theÊ councilÊ debateÊ on the regional plan as presented by the appointed consultants, have now also been dumped by this Minister." "ItÊ isÊ importantÊ that people know that this Government, who made much of theirÊ 1999Ê ConstitutionalÊ Amendment that saw Local Democracy enshrined in the ConstitutionÊ wilfullyÊ underminedÊ our system of local government, granting the powerÊ overÊ decisions regarding wasteÊ to the City and County Managers and with noÊ recourseÊ to the Council chamber. The elected voices of the people have been cast to one side," said Deputy Ó Caoláin. Ê TheÊ SinnÊ FéinÊ TDÊ statedÊ thatÊ heÊ expected that the campaigning groups opposing the planned incinerator would bring their case to An Bord Pleanála.

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