John Gormley

Statement by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman, on Michael McDowell’s proposals for PoolbegPeninsula, unveiled last night in the Mount Herbert Hotel.

Any contribution to the debate on the future of DublinPort and DublinBay is welcome, but this proposal represents a rather late entry on the part of the PDs. The future of Dublin Port and the Poolbeg peninsula is being decided now, with the high-level review of state-owned ports, the Poolbeg Framework Plan, and the plans to locate a municipal mass-burn incinerator in the heart of the ‘new quarter’ proposed in the PD plan. As a partner in this government, the PDs have the power and indeed the responsibility to take action on these issues rather than attempting to distract the electorate with sketchy long-term plans. (more…)

Details revealed under Freedom of Information about Indaver’s lobbying of the Department of Environment prior to the expansion of its proposed incinerator in Duleek confirm that Dick Roche’s Department actively promotes incineration, despite his denial in a parliamentary reply to the Green Party before Christmas, said Party Chairman John Gormley TD today.

Deputy Gormley said that, “Mr Roche has refused to give me details of the public private partnership for the incinerator in Ringsend which he sanctioned: but he did say that his Department was not promoting the project. This latest information reveals that Mr Roche has bent over backwards to facilitate the introduction of incineration. It is official Government policy and his denials carry little weight - as do the protestations of his colleague, Michael McDowell, who still claims to be opposed to the incinerator in Ringsend. Minister McDowell cannot have it everyway. He must stand over his Government’s decision.”

453. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to a parliamentary question of 2 November 2005, the reason he decided to approve a public private partnership for the design, building, operating and financing of an incinerator on the Poolbeg peninsula in Ringsend; if he will make available documentation from his Department relating to this decision; and the reason to date in 2005, he has refused all requests to make information on this important decision available to Dáil deputies. [39966/05]
 
   Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): As I have already indicated, my Department’s role in the approval process for this proposed waste to energy plant is limited to validating compliance with PPP procurement norms, as laid down in guidelines issued by the Department of Finance.  Having reviewed the detailed proposals of Dublin City Council and consulted with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department was satisfied that the project is designed to provide value for money within the parameters of the above guidelines and certified its compliance accordingly. 
  My Department is not the promoter of this project and will not hold all documentation on it.  I am satisfied that it would be inappropriate at this stage, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, to circulate publicly the documentation provided to my Department on this project.  However, I understand that Dublin City Council is preparing a summary of the contractual arrangements which will be issued for public information purposes.

 639. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the documentation he signed for a public private partnership for an incinerator on the Poolbeg Peninsula in Ringsend will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31874/05]
 
   Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): The public private partnership, PPP, concerned is for a waste to energy plant which will be procured by Dublin City Council on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, in accordance with their joint waste management plan.  Under guidelines issued by the Department of Finance, my Department is required to monitor compliance by local authorities with public policy in regard to PPP procurement.  Following submissions from Dublin City Council, and consultation with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department has now issued the necessary certification of this compliance to Dublin City Council in the present case.  It is now a matter for Dublin City Council to enter into resulting contractual arrangements with the preferred private partner.  Pending the conclusion of these contractual arrangements, it would not be appropriate for my Department to make available information which is commercially sensitive or which might prejudice the conclusion of the arrangements.

788. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in signing the contract for the incinerator in Ringsend, which has been awarded to a company (details supplied); if he will confirm that this is mass burn technology; when this contract will be signed as requested by Dublin City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28653/05]
 
   Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): The plant in question is a waste to energy plant.  It is being procured by Dublin City Council on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities in accordance with their joint waste management plan.  The plan provides for energy recovery as part of an integrated approach to waste management in the region in which thermal treatment will deal with the residue after maximum prevention, recycling and recovery.  The specification for the proposed plant is consistent with the requirements for thermal treatment of waste identified in An Agreed Programme for Government.  As the envisaged procurement of the plant is by way of public private partnership, the role of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the matter is to ensure compliance with public policy on public private partnership procurement.  Following submissions from Dublin City Council and consultation with the National Development Finance Agency, the necessary certification of compliance has been issued.  It is a matter for Dublin City Council to enter into resulting contractual arrangements.

78. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason the latest report from the Health Research Board on the health effects of living near incinerators or landfills relied on a review of literature and was not based on original research conducted here; his views on whether such research based on evidence here will be conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20938/05] (more…)

 1067. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects to receive details of the contract between Dublin City Council and a company (details supplied) to design, build, operate, maintain and finance an incinerator in Ringsend; if he has decided to approve such a contract; if not, the criteria he will apply in deciding whether to approve this contract; the person with whom he will consult in making this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10077/05] (more…)

Mr. Gormley: On promised legislation, will the Taoiseach tell the House why there is a delay until 2006 in introducing the strategic national infrastructure Bill?  Has it anything to do with the dispute on incineration?  Will the infrastructure include sewage treatment plants that do not work and stink people out of it?
 
   The Taoiseach: The Bill is being redrafted.  I do not know if it will be ready for the autumn session or early next year.
 
   Mr. Gormley: Why?

 Mr. Gormley: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of urgent public importance, namely, the impending decision of the Government to approve a contract between Dublin City Council and Elsim Ireland Ltd. to design, build and operate an incinerator in Ringsend and the need for the Minister, Deputy McDowell, to reject this proposal in line with his election promises.
 
   An Ceann Comhairle: Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.