Somebody has to play host to the incinerator

I AM writing in response to the column by Pat Brosnan titled “Democracy incinerated in pursuit of something called common good” in which he expresses his opinion that democracy was poorly served when An Bord Pleanála gave permission to Indaver Ireland to construct a chemical incinerator at Ringaskiddy in spite of community objections.

Just three words sum up the crunch issue between these two extremes: the greater good.

The interests of the people of Ringaskiddy does not necessarily constitute the greater good, no more so than the interests of the residents around Lansdowne Road does for the national stadium issue, notwithstanding the fact that it affects them more than the rest of us.

This is simply because the people of Ringaskiddy haven’t yet issued a proclamation of independence, nor have they sworn allegiance to their own king and until they do so they will have to put up with their hardships like the rest of us.

As I understand it, An Bord Pleanála found in favour of Indaver Ireland’s proposed incinerator, but An Bord Pleanála is an independent planning regulatory body so how can they be working for the good of the greater community?

The answers are as follows: they’re non profit-making; they’re appointed by the State to act in its interests when dealing with problems planning applicants have with decisions made by local authorities or unqualified councillors; the board’s members are senior specialists in areas relating to planning; unlike councillors, the board’s members are not lobbied.

As the past has convincingly shown us, when our politicians are given a free run at making decisions concerning specific planning issues, they either serve their own vested interests or else they amateurishly carry out botched developments. An Bord Pleanála is more capable of acting independently in reaching decisions for the good of the greater community.

Mr Brosnan makes mention of the fact that one of An Bord Pleanála’s senior inspectors, Philip Jones, was against the development crucially because he thought “it would be contrary to national policy in relation to hazardous waste management and disposal”.

Ultimately, nobody wants a chemical incinerator as a centrepiece to their community but if it’s needed to serve the greater community, some community is going to have to take it.

Donald Flanagan,

12, Clonard Park,

Salthill,

Galway.