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Indaver's employment of Press Officer to former
Environment Minister Martin Cullen has raised concerns among objectors
at the Ringaskiddy Oral Hearing.
CHASE are concerned at Indaver's purchase of influence by retaining
Mr Dan Pender*, who quotes himself as having "considerable knowledge
of the workings of government and developing valued relationships
with Cabinet Ministers, senior civil servants, State agency executives"
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Mr Pender was appointed Press Officer to Environment Minister Martin
Cullen in 2002, and worked as an adviser at a time when planning decisions
were pending, and Indaver actively lobbying for policy change to make
their incinerators financially viable. Prior to being invited to work
in government, Dan was Senior Press Spokesperson for Fianna Fail.
A Spokesperson for CHASE said "from letters which CHASE has copies
of, Indaver seemed to have an open door to Minister Cullens office,
and we are concerned about the level of influence they had at the
time, and the level of influence they now appear to have bought. Martin
Cullen refused several requests to meet with CHASE, on the basis that
planning was pending.
Any claims that this sort of cosy cartel is normal practice highlight
how easily developers can buy access to Government and exert pressure
to influence decisions. It raises questions as to what influence Indaver
has over Government and State Bodies.
It is alarming to see this sort of staff swapping going on, particularly
when our experience during the last oral hearing is of Senior Planning
Inspector Philip Jones upholding our position, recommending rejection
on an unprecedented 14 grounds, and this being ignored by the State
Appointed Bord on the grounds of National Policy.
We are concerned at the cosy relationship between Indaver and state
bodies, with Indaver Project Manager for Ringaskiddy and Meath Incinerators,
Laura Burke having taken up employment as a Bord Member of the EPA,
directly from Indaver Ireland."
Dan Pender Bio below - from www.penderpr.com
ENDS
About the Managing Director (Dan Pender) - for five years he worked
as a government adviser, gaining considerable knowledge of the workings
of government and developing valued relationships with Cabinet Ministers,
senior civil servants, State agency executives, representative organisations
and members of the print and broadcast media.
In government, he worked as press and policy adviser in the Department
of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local
Government. This gave Dan considerable experience in infrastructure,
aviation, transport, environmental development and related issues.
Contacts:
Mary O’Leary, 086 8177737, 021 4811952
Mary Hurley, 086 8162448, 021 4803070
Linda FitzPatrick, 087 7410849, 021 4374506
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