Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome Mr. Owen Keegan and the senior officials who are appearing before the committee. The issue of the waste energy facility at Poolbeg is very important. In his opening remarks Mr. Keegan said that the meetings of the Dublin local authorities considered this matter. I suggest to him that they could not have considered it because he went in and told them what he was going to do. One cannot consider anything unless one has options such as to run with something or not to run with it. The democratically elected councillors on the four Dublin local authorities were not given that option. I ask Mr. Keegan to explain what he means by the word "consider".

In respect of the project Mr. Keegan said it was substantial and that progress is being made. I contend that progress is being made down the wrong road. Household recycling rates are at an all-time high, having increased by 8% in the past few years up to 65%. That is before one begins to talk about a reduction, which should be the first issue.

In regard to Covanta, the company involved with the project, perhaps Mr. Keegan would explain its safety record and whether he is satisfied with it, given the long list of transgressions by the company. I have selected a few of these, for example, in respect of nickel emissions in Chester involving excessive toxic nickel and related compound emissions in November 2006.

In September 2008, emission rates for dioxins and furins in Pittsfield exceeded by 250% the amount allowed. In another case in 2008, the position was similar. There were excessive dioxin emissions in Wellington in July 2007. Newark fined Covanta excessive emissions in August 2008. This violation included illegal carbon monoxide emissions. In April 2009, the company was fined in West Wareham. I am concerned that on the edge of the capital city, between the capital city and the sea, there is a company with such an appalling track record operating. Despite all of these black marks on its book and serious breaches of regulations in the United States, Mr. Keegan might explain why he is happy with it.
Mr. Keegan stated that construction has started and there was a digger or JCBs on site, eventually, on 20 October. There is almost €100 million spent. I have never heard a satisfactory explanation as to how one can spend €100 million on a project without sticking a spade into the ground. I have asked professionals in the construction sector about this and about projects of this scale, and how one would spend €100 million without getting to the point where one had a machine on site.
My next concern relates to the volume of waste. I note the terms of the contract set out for this project and I would have concerns about it. I wonder has Mr. Keegan concerns. In trying to come up with this 600,000 tonnes per annum, how many local authorities will it take to feed this large beast planned at Poolbeg? From how far will the waste need to be drawn? I try to get in and out of this city every day and I am aware of the difficulties, for traffic alone. There will be heavy goods vehicles crisscrossing the city trying to deliver this waste unless it is flown in by helicopter and dropped in Poolbeg. How will that traffic be managed? How many local authorities will be involved, from how far afield will this waste be drawn and what traffic will be caused by this?
Given the volumes of waste and that companies will move more towards reduction of waste produced, coupled with the increasing rates of reuse and recycling, is Mr. Keegan certain that he will have the waste to feed this Poolbeg incinerator? I note the penalties. If one falls below the amount, the Dublin local authorities, DLAs, that is, rate payers and taxpayers in the Dublin region, will have to stump up to make up the shortfall. The officials will put it into their annual budgets, but it is the DLAs where the charge on this will fall. Has Keegan any concerns in that regard?
Mr. Keegan is steaming ahead with the project. We live in a small country which supports promoting the food sector. For example, Kerry Group is building a major plant not too far from here. The volume of processed food being exported has increased. We are trying to generate added value. Surely it would be a good sales pitch to be able to state that such food is grown on an island that does not have municipal waste incinerators to dispose of waste. Should we be moving more towards reduction, reuse and recycling, the same as they are doing in New Zealand which is a similar-sized country to ours with many similarities in terms of industry and the economy? Should that not be the way to go instead of going headlong down this road? Mr. Keegan might address that for me.
The Fianna Fáil-led Government in the early 2000s gave the managers the power to do this. They provided for clusters of managers to come together and come up with these waste plans, and to push democratically elected councillors to one side. In local elections in May last year the people elected councillors to the four local authorities. The councillors were elected to the local authorities by their peers to do their best and their views have been completely marginalised. I am at a loss to understand how Mr. Keegan can state that these councillors considered it. They could not consider anything. They have no power to consider anything. Mr. Keegan and the other county managers merely put down a fait accompliin front of them. He might explain that to me.