Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government make a statement to the House in view of yesterday's vote in the European Parliament where an attempt was made to change the Waste Framework Directive to have incineration recognised as a recovery instead of a disposal method. The Minister needs to state the impact this decision will have on waste policy here, where incineration is presented as waste to energy. This vote shows that waste is not an efficient fuel, that burning waste creates high CO2 emissions for a low electricity output, that it emits more CO2 than recycling, and that it creates health problems and diverts waste from recycling.

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