PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: September 23, 2003 

FURY AS COMMUNITIES GET DOUBLE SHOCK AT BORD PLEANALA INCINERATOR HEARING

Health & Environmental Issues Ruled Out of Order

Indaver Confirms Plans to Import Toxic Waste

Community Groups reacted with fury to a double shock today at the An Bord Pleanala hearing for the National Hazardous Waste Incinerator at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.  The first surprise came when Environmental and Health Issues were ruled out of order, followed by the shock announcement by Indaver Ireland that they intended to apply for a license to import toxic waste.  The hearing is taking place at Neptune Stadium, Cork.

Carrigaline IFA spokesperson, Oliver O’Leary point out in dismay that he represented over 1,000 farmers and their whole submission was based on environmental issues and the resulting threat to their livelihood. 

Council for CHASE, Mr Joe Noonan expressed profound dissatisfaction at the ABP ruling that matters to do with Environmental Pollution including its effect on human health were not to be discussed.

While still digesting this ruling, community representatives listened in fury as Indaver Ireland MD, Mr John Ahern confirmed plans to import toxic waste from Northern Ireland , and announced that Indaver would be seeking a Transfrontier License to do so.  Mr Ahern asked the hearing to allow conditions be amended to facilitate this. 

CHASE members say this announcement makes a mockery of self-sufficiency principle whereby countries are expected to deal with their own waste.  If waste is imported from Northern Ireland it opens floodgates for toxic imports from the UK and beyond.  Indaver have previously denied that they would import toxic. 

“This is exactly what we have been fearing,” said Mary O’Leary, CHASE Chairperson.  “It confirms that there is no hazardous waste crisis in Ireland - companies are already dealing with their own waste under EPA licenses.  This whole project is nothing short of a commercial bid by a merchant incinerator Company to burn waste in Cork Harbour."

The hearing is expected to take up to two weeks, and continues this afternoon.

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For further information contact:
Linda Fitzpatrick, CHASE PRO   Tel: 021 4374506  Mobile: 087 7410849
Mary O’Leary, Chairperson, CHASE    Tel: 021 4811952  Mobile: 086 8177737
Natasha Harty, On the Ground at Neptune Stadium Mobile: 087 1213764