Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Where do we stand on this issue? The fundamental principle is that before entering Government the Green Party had the opportunity to identify this as a core issue and honour the pledge on its website. The Green Party policy is to put a ten year moratorium on the development of incinerators and other thermal treatment facilities nationally. We found this on the Green Party website today. Before going into Government the Green Party had the opportunity to do a deal with Fianna Fáil. Deputy Healy-Rae did a deal and got millions. Other Deputies placed their deals on the record of the House. The Green Party has no deal on this core issue. The party has let the side down. In Resurgence magazine Deputy Gormley refers to a quote from Mr. Kennedy: "It is not what you are, but what people think you are, that matters". I accept that the quote does not refer to incineration but I thought it was quite funny.

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