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1 March 2002
State should take over Ardagh Glass company
Waste Management crisis will deepen if plant closes
Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Noel Dempsey TD to initiate a State takeover of the Ardagh glass bottle plant in Dublin, the only glass recycling facility in the State, which has announced that it is to close. Deputy Ó Caoláin said the State and local authority should intervene to ensure that the waste management crisis is not worsened and to save nearly 400 jobs.
The Sinn Fein TD said:
``The Ardagh plant is the only glass recycling facility in this State. If it is allowed to close it will be a disaster on two fronts. 400 workers will lose their jobs and the waste management crisis will be deepened. The State should move in immediately.
``I am calling on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Noel Dempsey TD, to initiate a State takeover of the Ardagh plant in partnership with Dublin City Council and SIPTU, which represents workers at the plant. Given the essential role this plant plays in our waste management infrastructure the government is duty bound to intervene now. Local authorities have invested in new collection facilities for glass bottles throughout the country but if Ardagh closes their main recycling outlet for this material will be gone.
``My Sinn Fein colleagues on Dublin City Council are tabling an emergency motion urging that the Council intervene and help save this essential facility and the jobs of its 400 workers.''
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