Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I want to ask the Taoiseach about the situation arising from the decision of An Bord Pleanála yesterday to grant planning permission for a major incinerator in Dublin city for 600,000 tonnes of waste. The Taoiseach is aware that this incinerator is in addition to the incinerator in County Meath which has approval to deal with 200,000 tonnes of waste. Furthermore, it is in addition to other planned incinerators around the country, one of which is on the M50 and which will deal with 330,000 tonnes of waste.

Yesterday's decision and that for the incinerator in County Meath were based on what An Bord Pleanála understood to be Government waste management policy. However, that waste management policy has had a different articulation in the past 24 hours, from the man responsible for the environment and Government policy in this area. His view is that it is now Government policy to make the incinerator at Poolbeg redundant. That is what he has said.

On one hand we have one arm of Government, namely, Dublin City Council, going to spend €300 million of taxpayers' money on an incinerator to deal with 600,000 tonnes of waste. On the other hand, we have the Minister — the helpless and hapless Deputy John Gormley. He sits side by side with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Like the muppets Statler and Waldorf, they comment on everything but are not able to implement anything.

Will the Taoiseach, as head of Government, tell us what is Government policy on the disposal of waste? Is it policy to provide two, four or eight incinerators or is it based on capacity of 400,000 tonnes? Does the Taoiseach agree with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that Government policy is now to make the approved incinerator in Poolbeg redundant? Is that Government policy?

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