Gormley welcomes Poolbeg incinerator hearing
Green Party Chairman and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley has welcomed the announcement that an oral hearing into the proposed incinerator at Poolbeg will go ahead, but has cautioned that a hearing so close to a General Election could turn into a political circus.
Deputy Gormley said: “I’m delighted that we’re finally going to have an oral hearing on the planned incinerator as it will give the local community the chance to put forward the compelling case against the proposal. However, I am concerned about the timing, as the General Election is likely to be held within weeks of the hearing.
“The proximity of the election will encourage all of the candidates in Dublin South East to try and outdo each other in making grandiose statements of opposition to the incinerator, rather than focussing on the planning and environmental case against the proposal. In particular, we can expect the candidates from Fianna Fáil and the PDs to assert their total opposition to an incinerator at Poolbeg, while simultaneously campaigning for the re-election of the Government which is responsible for the proposal in the first place.
“These candidates have done absolutely nothing to reverse the Government policy which has landed the people of Dublin South East with the proposed incinerator, but they will take the opportunity afforded by the oral hearing to paint themselves as the project’s greatest opponents.
“I hope to be proved wrong, but I’m concerned that the very important issues raised in the submissions made to An Bord Pleanála may be overshadowed by electioneering. I trust that the Board’s inspector will not allow him or herself to be sidetracked, but the intense atmosphere of a General Election campaign may not be the best context for a hearing of this importance,” concluded Deputy Gormley.