A chara, – I totally agree with your conclusion that the proposal to locate a 600,000-tonne mass- burn incinerator at Poolbeg must be based on “hard-headed pragmatism and the need to meet EU environmental standards and to protect the public purse” (Editorial, September 8th). I would contend, however, that the only person demonstrating such an approach is Minister for Environment John Gormley.
Back in the late 1990s, when he was Councillor Gormley, he set out clearly the reasons why mass-burn incineration was not a viable solution for the waste problems faced by Dublin city. This was before there was any proposal to locate such a facility at Poolbeg.
The Minister has been consistent in his approach in the intervening years, as a councillor, as a TD, and now as Minister.
If we look at the other side of the argument, we see that the management of Dublin City Council are pushing ahead with this project even though they knew that it was contrary to Government policy, contrary to the expressed wishes of the majority of councillors, and that there was no way they could guarantee the tonnage that they are contractually obliged to provide to Covanta.
The put-or-pay aspect of the contract will see the rate-payers of Dublin city having to pay fines. The city management’s continued refusal to be open and transparent regarding the terms and conditions of the contract, even with the elected members of the council, is worrying.
I agree totally with your view that this whole thing is “a shambolic scenario”, but I see the reason for the problems as stemming from the inappropriate, undemocratic, and secretive manner in which the council management has gone about their business. – Is mise,
STAN NANGLE
Doneraile Court
Tramore
Co Waterford