McDowell denies rejection of incinerator

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday rejected Green Party claims that he intended to vote against the inclusion of incineration in the Government’s new National Development Bill.

The minister was responding to claims by Green Party chairman John Gormley that he had told a public meeting in Dublin he would vote against incineration.

Mr Gormley said he welcomed Mr McDowell’s long and eloquent speech to the Sandymount and Merrion Resident’s Association against the proposed incinerator for the Poolbeg peninsula.

The Green Party chairman said he was amazed to hear the Minister tell the residents in his own constituency that he would vote against the inclusion of incineration in the Government’s new Infrastructure Bill.

But Mr McDowell strongly rejected this claim last night, and insisted he never promised to vote against the inclusion of incineration in the Government’s bill.

“Mr Gormley did not represent correctly what the Minister said, Mr McDowell never indicated that he would vote against the Government Bill,” said a spokesman for the Progressive Democrats.

The Green Party chairman said that both he and other elected representatives listened as Mr McDowell told the public meeting on Thursday night that the proposed incinerator was a “ready up” driven by Dublin City Council and the Custom House under Martin Cullen.

“Mr McDowell said that it constituted mass incineration and was contrary to the Government’s own policy,” Deputy Gormley added.

The Justice Minister said that the Government is in fact opposed to mass incineration and that this was a fair representation of the facts.

And Mr McDowell confirmed yesterday that both he and the Progressive Democrats are opposed to allowing the new Bill to consider proposals for incinerators. The Green Party chairman said he welcomed Mr McDowell’s clarification.

Responding to calls from the crowds at the public meeting to resign, the Justice Minister said his resignation would have no impact on any decision that would be taken about the Poolbeg incinerator in the future.

Mr Gormley said he welcomed the minister’s call to all elected representatives in the area to work together to get the information on the Poolbeg incinerator out to the media.

“I intend to organise a joint press conference for the four TDs in the Dublin South East constituency next week,” he said.