‘Hands off’ warning over waste plant ban

Cork county councillors will send a blunt “hands off” message to a minister that they won’t tolerate him interfering in their decision to ban industrial incinerators in certain areas.

Councillors have included a clause in their County Development Plan, which says such developments will be prohibited in certain areas.

They have reacted angrily to junior minister Paudie Coffey, who has responsibility for co-ordinating future construction needs, saying he would overrule their decision because he wants a general acceptance that incinerators can be put anywhere within reason.