Obstruction a waste of time
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MINISTER for the Environment John Gormley's continued obstruction of the planned Poolbeg incinerator is a national disgrace.
It is jeopardising Dublin city's future waste disposal, hundreds of jobs and, crucially, the international perception of Ireland as a place to invest and do business. And today we report that taxpayers will face a compensation bill of hundreds of millions if the Minister persists with his obdurate and defiant position.
The huge fines will be a consequence of this country's continued overreliance on landfill, which is in clear breach of EU directives.
Meanwhile, the developers contracted to build the incinerator may be considering a multi-million euro legal action in face of the Minister's blatant delaying tactics.
The project has been approved by the Minister's own department, by the Environmental Agency, An Bord Pleanala and the National Development Finance Agency.
Still he refuses to issue the foreshore licence which is required for a water cooling system for the incinerator, despite reportedly having been advised by the Attorney General that there is no legal reason for him not to do so.
Mr Gormley has made no secret of the fact that he intends to continue to obstruct progress on this important project as long as he can.
A while ago, the Taoiseach appeared deeply hurt by accusations in the Dail that he was guilty of economic treason. He should think long and hard about his Environment Minister's stubborn blocking of a project of national infrastructural importance in which, by his own failure to intervene, he is complicit.
Irish Independent
