Poolbeg incinerator: McDowell must identify source of claims
– Not the first time electioneering PDs have predicted incinerator’s demise
Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD has called on the Tánaiste Michael McDowell to clarify the source of his claim that the plans for an incinerator at Poolbeg in Dublin have been abandoned. The Tánaiste’s comments in today’s Evening Herald have caused considerable confusion as Dublin City Council maintains that the project remains on track.
Deputy Gormley said: “Michael McDowell owes it to the local community to clarify where he is getting the information that allows him to confidently announce the collapse of this project, even though as far as Dublin City Council is concerned it’s all systems go,” said Deputy Gormley.
“It’s worth remembering that this is not the first time that the PDs have predicted the demise of the incinerator. In May 2005 Cllr Wendy Hederman released a statement entitled ‘City Council Blocks Incinerator’, and in July 2005 Michael McDowell told the Southside People newspaper that the incinerator would not go ahead ‘as planned.’
“It is irresponsible of Michael McDowell to give local people false hope. He needs to be challenged immediately by the media to back up his statements. His latest statement is a panic reaction to voter hostility on this issue in the forthcoming election.”