Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The Minister has said on many occasions that he expected An Bord Pleanála or the EPA to respect ministerial announcements rather than Government policy. In other words, what the Minister says on planning and development matters should be respected rather than Government policy. Some time ago when permission was granted for incineration in Poolbeg he said he expected An Bord Pleanála to respect what the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government said rather than Government policy, for which he did not have approval to underpin what he was saying.

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