The Fine Gael leader has proposed a moratorium on the building of waste incinerators pending further debate on safety issues concerned with such plants.
Mr John Bruton, speaking at a public meeting in Duleek on Thursday night, said he was totally opposed to the Indaver plan to site a waste incinerator at Carranstown, near Duleek.
Having listened to speakers against incineration, Mr Bruton, who is a TD for Meath, told the audience of 300 he was "overwhelmed" by the arguments put forward and felt a moratorium on the building of such plants was justified.
Among the speakers on the panel were Dr Conchur O Bradaigh of NUI Galway and Ms Aine Suttle, both of whom have opposed a planned incinerator for Galway, and Dr Mary Grehan, who also spoke against incineration. There were no speakers in favour. Mr Bruton spoke from the floor when the audience was invited to make its views known.
Dr O Bradaigh said the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, who also represents the Meath constituency, was invited to attend but was unable to do so.
Mr Dempsey has in the past made known his impatience with a lack of progress on measures to deal with waste management.
