Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

That proves that there is some confusion within the Green Party about its policy in this respect. What can we expect from the Green Party, now that it has ministerial responsibility for this area?

An Bord Pleanála is considering a proposal for preliminary discussions about the possible provision of a waste-to-energy facility at the old and abandoned mine at Tynagh, Loughrea, County Galway. Given that the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, worked near Tynagh in the past, he is aware that the site in question represents an environmental disaster for the people of County Galway. No State agency, Department or Minister has ever taken responsibility for the site. A recent report published by the Environmental Protection Agency, which did not relate to the proposal to which I refer, clearly highlighted the state of the mine at present. The EPA argued that as the site presents a perpetual risk to human health and the environment, it requires structured, comprehensive, active and continued management. If the proposed facility, which is being considered for discussion by An Bord Pleanála at present, is deemed to be required to meet an urgent infrastructural need in the area, the possibility that normal planning procedures will be adhered to in this instance will be eliminated. An Bord Pleanála might decide to fast-track the proposal by allowing an incinerator to be developed in what is an environmental disaster area. There is serious opposition to the plan. People have serious concerns about the possible health risk the facility poses to humans. It could seriously damage the farming community by diminishing the acceptance of the food that is produced in the area as part of the food chain I ask the Minister of State to address these concerns as a matter of urgency.

The outgoing leader of the Green Party, Deputy Sargent, said in recent weeks that the Green Party will not be prepared to participate in government if pain and concern are inflicted on communities throughout the country. I refer to proposals to establish incinerators in various parts of the country, some of which have already been mentioned. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stated clearly on a radio programme last Sunday that he was precluded from speaking about individual projects specifically but that he can speak about them in general. I ask the Minister to take up this particular issue and speak about it in general.

I asked a question in the Dáil last week of the Minister of State with responsibility for food, Deputy Sargent, and he replied he had no part to play in the matter because a private company was involved. In fact, as of now nobody knows the identity of the proposer for the project at Tynagh Mines. The Minister of State further stated it would be examined in due course.

How can An Bord Pleanála initiate talks with a potential proposer to provide an incinerator at Tynagh Mines when it has already been described by another State agency as an environmental disaster requiring care in the way in which it is dealt with? Why is An Bord Pleanála being allowed to continue to discuss this project as a strategic infrastructure requirement for the country? I ask the Minister to put a stop to that. The criteria for fast-tracking major infrastructure projects required throughout the country is one thing but fast-tracking the provision of an incinerator in the west in this way is a decoy because it provides an opportunity to avoid the democratic decision of the people and the local councillors to make a decision on that unwanted facility in the west.

One thinks of what happened in the past where a consortium made up of Gama, the builders, and investors were involved in the provision of the gas power station in Tynagh. They, with other developers, provided that power station and at the same time provided, in a forward thinking way, the capacity for a further extension to that generating station.

The proposal is to utilise a waste-to-energy incinerator at Tynagh. There is collusion somewhere. I hope it will become known but it is the responsibility of the Minister to put an end once and for all to this project. If he abdicates his responsibility, it will be the first test of the Minister and his sincerity with regard to the continuation of incineration as a waste management ploy.

See this speech in context