Watchdog rejects Poolbeg complaint
THE controversial €350m Poolbeg incinerator moved a step closer to reality yesterday after the competition watchdog quashed complaints the plant breached certain laws.
The ruling was made after claims from private waste management companies that the plant is anti-competitive.
Poolbeg -- a public/private partnership between Dublin City Council (DCC), US giant Covanta Energy and Danish firm Dong -- will have the capacity to process 600,000 tonnes of waste per annum.
However, the Irish Waste Management Agency (IWMA) made the complaints, including claims of numerous breaches of competition law.
They had claimed the deal between the combined operators of the plant favoured Poolbeg as the facility to treat waste from the wider Dublin region.
The Competition Authority rejected all of the complaints, bar one, relating to Dublin City Council's policy of asking home owners to separate glass according to colour at recycling centres.
The Poolbeg plant has been mired in controversy since it was first mooted over 10 years ago. It is located in the constituency of Environment Minister John Gormley who has been accused of having a conflict of interest over the project.
While it has been approved by a number of agencies, including the Department of the Environment, a foreshore licence is required for the construction of a water cooling system.
DCC first lodged an application for a foreshore licence almost two years ago and until it is issued to Covanta Energy, the plant will not be able to proceed.
All the preliminary work on the licence has been done, but no decision has emerged.
The IWMA has said it will seek a meeting with the watchdog over its decision.
- Ailish O'Hora Public Affairs Correspondent
Irish Independent
