Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position the Government took on the reclassification of incineration as energy recovery at European Council level in decisions on the new proposed Waste Framework Directive. [17047/08]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position the Government will take on the reclassification of incineration as energy recovery at Council level in decisions on the new proposed Waste Framework Directive when it returns to Council. [17048/08]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will support the inclusion of a binding waste hierarchy in the proposed Waste Framework Directive. [17049/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.

I consider that incineration must always be regarded as disposal. Its definition as recovery within the proposed revised Waste Framework Directive will, in my view, undermine efforts to promote a recycling society and the promotion of reduction and reuse within the waste hierarchy. At the June 2007 Environment Council, I made my views known to that effect by entering a statement in the Council minutes along with the Czech Republic, who shared my views on this matter. Given that there was almost unanimity towards a political agreement at the Council I did not oppose the adoption of a common position at that time.

I have noted that the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted 80 amendments to the common position at its meeting on 8 April 2008 and that incineration and the waste hierarchy are among the issues where amendments are proposed. Concerning the waste hierarchy the Parliament wants a general rule rather than a guiding principle to apply and this is something I do not favour.

Currently, the EU Presidency has a mandate to negotiate towards a second reading agreement with the European Parliament on the basis of particular textual suggestions and plans three Trialogues before the deadline of 16 June 2008, when the Parliament plenary vote is scheduled. It is therefore premature to take a definitive position on the issue.