CHASE- Cork Harbour Alliance for A Safe Environment
PRESS RELEASE - 17/01/06

MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MUST RESIGN IMMEDIATELY

CHASE IS SEEKING THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF MR DICK ROCHE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

CHASE seeks the immediate resignation of Dick Roche for his part in changing waste management policy to suit the commercial interests of a private waste management company. The company, Indaver Ireland, have recently sought an increase in the volume of waste it proposes to burn from 150,000 to 200,000 at its plant in Meath.

A report in the IRISH TIMES (16 O1 06) by Mark Hennessy “Department tried to assist incinerator company” tells how “the Department of the Environment spent 18 months trying to find ways to accommodate incinerator company Indaver’s objection to rules that prevented the transportation of rubbish over regional boundaries." These “rules”underpinned the specific conditions given by An Bord Pleanala when it decided to grant Planning Permission for the facility at Carranstown, Co Meath and are in compliance with the regional approach to waste management.

The fact that the Department of the Environment has sought to support the efforts of a private company in maximizing its profit margin fundamentally questions the ability of the Minister to do his job in an impartial manner.

According to the report the Department and the Minister have major concerns about Indaver being at the mercy of a cartel of the waste collectors in the regions but they seem alarmingly unconcerned about the monopoly situation they are setting up for the public and the waste management industry by giving Indaver such preferential treatment.

Minister Roche must now resign as he clearly has shown he is more interested in promoting the business interests of a private company than protecting the proper waste management interests of the Irish people.

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For further information:

Mary Hurley, CHASE PRO, 021 4813070 086 8162448
Mary O’Leary, CHASE Chairperson, 021 4811952 086 8177737