Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Minister has not yet announced any change in Government policy on incineration. In the absence of a new and changed policy, An Bord Pleanála will have no option but to conclude that the Government's pro-incineration policy is continuing on the Minister's watch. His protest that he is prevented from interfering is the clearest possible signal to An Bord Pleanála that policy has not changed. All the signals from the Minister indicate that Government policy on incineration has not changed. His speech last night relied on the waste management hierarchy which puts incineration or "waste to energy" as it is sometimes described as an option preferable to landfill, a position which normally provides the environmental justification for incineration.

The Minister's adherence to the waste hierarchy is particularly interesting given the political decision made at last week's Environment Council meeting which he attended to reclassify incineration as "waste recovery" rather than "waste disposal". Made on a recommendation of the Commission, the decision to elevate incineration from disposal to recovery in the waste hierarchy is at variance with the position taken by the European Parliament on the issue and has been strongly condemned by Friends of the Earth Europe which described it as promoting incineration. Nevertheless, the Minister agreed to the measure on behalf of Ireland.

In the absence of a clear ministerial statement indicating a change of policy on incineration, the only other source An Bord Pleanála could consult for a clue as to Government policy is the draft programme for Government agreed by the Green Party. Nowhere in the programme does it state Government policy on incineration is to be changed. At best, incineration is to be conditioned somewhat by references to the "put and pay" clause, landfill levy and management and monitoring of waste facilities. Arguably, the programme for Government gives the green light, in every sense, to incineration by making a commitment that "the landfills currently provided for under the regional waste management plans should be the last to be constructed for a generation". As Deputies are aware, incineration can only be avoided in the short to medium term if more landfills are opened. If the programme for Government states no further landfills will be constructed, it is inevitable that plans will proceed for incinerators in Poolbeg, Carranstown and the south east, for which a location has not yet been identified.

We must be clear about this issue. Unless the Minister announces a change in Government policy on incineration, An Bord Pleanála is likely to assume policy has not changed and planning permission for the incinerator at Poolbeg is in line with Government policy. In the context of the programme for Government, the waste management hierarchy which confers preference on incineration over landfill and the EU waste framework directive to which he has given his political approval, the Minister's silence and reluctance to announce a change in policy on incineration will speak volumes to An Bord Pleanála. Last night he had an opportunity to announce a change in Government policy.

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