Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

Can I tell the Deputies what we have done in the Cork region? Cork County Council is one of the few local authorities that is controlled by Fine Gael. At every step of the way, Fine Gael has tried to prevent the construction of a national hazardous waste and municipal waste incinerator on Cork Harbour at Ringaskiddy. We refused to zone the site for a waste facility of this nature. We made it impossible for Cork County Council to grant planning permission for the project. We ensured that the matter was heard by An Bord Pleanála. We gave evidence at the oral hearing. We helped to sponsor the residents' associations which gave evidence at the oral hearing. We were part of a team, which included former Deputy Dan Boyle, that got the right result at the oral hearing. Despite all that, An Bord Pleanála decided to grant planning permission for a national hazardous waste facility, to be run by Indaver Ireland in Cork South-Central, in light of the Government's policy of promoting the use of a limited number of incinerators which are to be strategically placed in various parts of the country.

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