Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 July 2008
41 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy on incineration and its role in the national waste strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27787/08]
View answerThe programme for Government signalled the development of waste and resource policy in the direction of sustainability and, in particular, to move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies. Arising from a commitment in the programme, a major international review of waste management strategy is commencing. This will inform the Government's approach to waste prevention and minimisation and to diversion of waste from landfill. This review will examine, in particular, the emergence of new technologies in waste management, particularly those for the mechanical and biological treatment of waste, which can reduce the need for incineration or landfill.
The Government is acutely conscious of the very real and imminent challenge posed for Ireland by the EU landfill directive. To meet our obligations under this directive will require a doubling of the amount of biodegradable waste we divert away from landfill by 2010. We need to accelerate the move away from landfill quite dramatically, to examine all the technologies that can contribute to this and to regulate the sector in a manner which supports optimal environmental performance at minimum cost. The review is not just about technology. Its terms of reference are deliberately broad so as to promote a fundamental review of the legal, institutional and financial approach we take to waste management.
Inaction is not an option and the approach reflected in the current waste management plans, while facilitating some progress, is not going far enough fast enough. Ireland needs to pursue the most innovative solutions available and applied internationally. We can move from being an under achiever to world class standard and to a position of leadership rather than struggling to meet EU targets, as at present.
Undue emphasis on incineration as the cornerstone of waste management policy is detrimental to the development of alternative solutions. The review may well indicate some residual role for thermal treatment in our future waste management strategy, but I do not envisage it being on anything like the scale that was previously planned.
The Minister has repeatedly said, since coming to office, that he has no role in the planning and granting of licences relating to incinerators or other waste management infrastructure. Yet, when An Bord Pleanála or the Environmental Protection Agency makes decisions he has, through media interviews, said that he is going to make those decisions redundant in his own constituency in Poolbeg. That seems to be the basis of Government policy in relation to waste — soundbites and media interviews.
Does the Deputy have a question?
If the Minister is so much against incineration, why did he meet an economic consultant about a 100,000 tonne incinerator in Rathcoole?
I did not meet any economic consultant. I met an environmental consultant, a former director of the EPA. Deputy Hogan's party has described this as a secret meeting but if it was so secret, why was I happy to announce it to the Deputy and to others?
Why did the Minister meet the person concerned?
The fact is that the lady, whom I have known for quite some time, came to me to talk about a range of issues. She spoke about what she described as an alternative proposal for Rathcoole. I told her I was sorry but I could not get involved in any particular application. I have said already this afternoon that I do not get involved in any applications. She also wanted to speak to my party colleague and I understand that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, met her. That is as far as it went.
I meet people on a regular basis to discuss alternative technologies, gasification being one of them. I have met many people to discuss that issue. I have also met a lot of people in relation to pyrolosis. I am looking at all options and a suite of measures to deal with the waste management problem.
The bottom line is that when we are talking about alternative technologies, what I want to see happening is not high-tech. We must get into source segregation, ensure the roll-out of the brown bins and then, as is happening in Austria and elsewhere, we could use NBT for the residual or black bin waste. That is the way forward and we can make massive reductions in our waste if we pursue that particular option.
It is quite difficult to get to meet a Minister, whether as part of a delegation or deputation or even as an individual, unless one attends the Minister's clinic. I was amazed that the Minister put himself in a position — notwithstanding what he has just said and I accept his bona fides in the matter — whereby he gave the impression that he was in favour of incineration. He surely knew what he would talk to the person concerned about before he met her. The fact that his Green Party colleague met the same individual certainly raised the antenna.
Does the Minister accept that in view of his policy, which he has enunciated through various soundbites and media interviews — to which An Bord Pleanála and the EPA do not listen, although the Minister would like them to — it was inappropriate for him to meet somebody who is in favour of incineration and of developing a 100,000 tonne project in Rathcoole, especially given that under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act, the application goes directly to An Bord Pleanála and the Minister has no direct function?
The Deputy is being entirely disingenuous. The impression he is trying to convey here and that his fellow Deputies are trying to convey on the ground in that area is that a secret meeting took place. They are trying to give the impression that I am, somehow, in favour of incineration. Nothing, as I hope the Deputy now realises, could be further from the truth.
I am quite willing to meet people and have met quite a number of delegations since assuming office but what we require is clarity around the Deputy's party's position on this matter.
My party is not in Government. The Minister is in Government.
Fine Gael, unfortunately, on the issue of incineration, has voted in favour over and over again.
When?
On at least three occasions, Fine Gael was in favour of including——
The Minister is in favour of it.
When the original Waste Management Bill was going through the House, my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Trevor Sargent, tabled amendments which were rejected by all of the main political parties. His main amendment concerned incineration——
Which is now accepted by the Minister.
That is the situation.
The Minister is now meeting the developers of incinerators.
Deputy Hogan's party put that through. It voted for the waste plan going through Dublin City Council. Fine Gael voted on three separate occasions for incineration. That is the situation and——
The Minister is meeting incinerator developers. What hypocrisy.
Deputy Hogan needs to face up to that reality and stop playing politics with this issue.
