PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release Friday16 Jan, 2004

CORK RESIDENTS FURIOUS AS INSPECTORS RECOMMENDATION IGNORED

Members of CHASE are extremely at the decision by An Bord Pleanala to ignore the recommendation of the Oral Hearing Inspector and to grant planning permission for the building of a National Hazardous Waste Incinerator at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork. This overturns the earlier decision made by Cork County Council to refuse planning.

In making this decision, An Bord Pleanala are in breach of EU Law, which says that you must “assess the risk to people's health before approving an incinerator”, and the Bord flatly refused to do this. It is particularly inappropriate for Ireland, currently holding the EU Presidency, to be flouting its legislation. CHASE are seeking immediate legal advise on this issue.

CHASE Chairperson Mary O’Leary said “We are completely shocked at this decision. The case we put forward at the Oral Hearing was extremely strong, and showed the proposal to be against a number of key local and national plans which form the blueprint for planning policy in Cork. The proposal, which attracted over 30,000 objections, is:

• In serious breach of current EU laws
• Contrary to
  • The Cork County Development Plan
  • The Cork Area Strategic Plan
  • Basel Convention Recommendations on Siting of Hazardous Waste Facilities
  • Numerous international safety treaties.

The question must be asked that if, in light of all this, and against the inspectors recommendation, a project is allowed to proceed - what is the value of having a planning process at all? It certainly does not indicate a transparent, independent planning process, and smacks of anarchy.

The fact of the matter is that Ireland has 15-20,000 tonnes of hazardous waste p.a. for incineration. A commercial company has now been approved to build a 100,000 tonne facility. It is unnecessary and wrong.”

CHASE will be examining the reasons for the granting of permission, and will look at the possibility of a judicial review.

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For further information contact:

Linda Fitzpatrick, CHASE PRO Tel: 021 4374506 Mobile: 087 7410849
Mary O’Leary, CHASE Chairperson, Tel: 021 4811952 Mobile: 086 8177737