Co Dublin, Ireland (Rep.) - JOHN Gormley, Ireland's environment minister, is looking for comment on a ten year plan on waste policy and regulations. "This new draft waste policy is ambitious, and it will have consequences. It will create jobs and enhance environmental protection. But I have to be clear that it will inevitably have consequences for the size and location of residual waste infrastructure," he said. In addition, Mr Gormley has reopened a consultation on the introduction of waste facility levies designed to penalise large incinerator projects. The closing date for comments is 1 October 2010.

John Gormley, who is also leader of the Green Party, has come under flak for obstructing a planned incinerator at Poolbeg. In June, Stephen Collins of the Irish Times wrote, 'The politics of the case, as distinct from its merits or demerits, is that Gormley is an inveterate opponent of the project, as are TDs from all parties in Dublin South East where it is located. On the other side the backers of the plan are the four Dublin local authorities who have a duty to develop the safest and most efficient waste disposal system for the capital in line with EU directives. Gormley and the local authorities are locked in an increasingly bitter battle. Potential EU fines are starting to clock up, because the continuing over-reliance on landfill is in clear breach of an EU directive which came into effect at the beginning of this year. Meanwhile the commercial developers of the project may be lining up for a multi-million euro legal action over the delaying tactics that have blocked its development. Gormley has made no secret of the fact that he is not going to allow the project to get off the ground under any circumstances while he is Minister for the Environment and one of his latest moves has been to employ a senior counsel to try to pick holes in the contracts.'

Irish government waste policy consultation
Irish Times : Stephen Collins

Story Type:  News

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