Greens question EPA chief's credentials
Dr Mary Kelly, a former official in employers’ group IBEC, has been appointed director general of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Green Party chairman John Gormley said Ms Kelly had in the past argued vehemently against the policies of environmentalists, such as zero waste and energy taxes.
“When you see someone appointed to a position like this, who is so diametrically opposed to your position, it gives you great cause for concern,” Mr Gormley said.
“We have very little confidence in the EPA under her stewardship and it is clear that the sustainability agenda will not be moved forward significantly when a former IBEC spokesperson is at the helm.”
The Government however, rejected the allegations and said Ms Kelly had been appointed on foot of her expertise and experience in environmental affairs.
It said an independent panel which included representatives from the IDA and An Taisce had drawn up a short-list from which she had been chosen.
But Mr Gormley said the “IBEC approach” to environmental affairs, just before the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, underlined the Government’s poor performance on environmental issues.
He said Ireland had failed to meet green targets set out in the Kyoto and Rio de Janeiro agreements, which would result in taxpayers footing a multi-million euro bill.
“At Johannesburg our Government representatives will no doubt talk the talk and sign whatever agreement needs to be signed, without any real intention of implementing it. This cavalier approach to international agreements has been a hallmark of the FF-PD administration.”
At a press conference yesterday the Greens, accompanied by the Earth Summit Ireland Group, said there was little hope of real results being achieved but said it was important that the voices of change were heard at the conference.
Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna, said Ireland should take a brave stand and lobby to increase aid for third world countries, remove trade tariffs and subsidies, reform the World Trade Organisation.
In particular she said the Government had to change its stance on fisheries policies to prevent the destruction of the world’s fish supplies.
She said the Government’s failure in this regard was best illustrated by its support for the Atlantic Dawn fishing vessel, one of the largest in the world and which has been dubbed the “ship from hell” by some third-world countries.
“The vessel was hailed by the Government as a great success story, but no consideration was given to the devastation this massive fishing vessel will wreak, socially and environmentally, off the West African coast of Mauritania,” she said.
