The government has decided to let the Poolbeg Incinerator project go ahead. No political decision to stop this facility being built in Ringsend has been taken. On the contrary, the City Council Manager has been given the green light and all it needs now is ‘to go through a planning process.’

Does this mean Minister Michael McDowell has failed to stop the incinerator at political level, despite his many promises to the people of Dublin South East?

Ruairi Quinn’s Labour colleague in Dail Eireann, Eamon Gilmore, TD extracted the above facts from Dick Roche, TD, Minister for the Environment, with a priority question in the Dail on Wednesday 9 February.

Mr Gilmore: I thank the Minister for his reply which sets out the procedures that will need to be followed to allow an incinerator to be built in Poolbeg. From his answer, can I take it that the Minister is confirming what he recently told Ursula Halligan on her television programme that the incinerator in Poolbeg will proceed?
Mr Roche: As I said to the Deputy, the incinerator project needs to go through a planning process.
Mr Gilmore: We all know that.
Mr Roche: Obviously if it gets the green light in the planning process, it can proceed.
Mr Gilmore: From the Minister’s reply, can I take it that no political decision has been made by the Minister or the Government not to build the incinerator in Poolbeg?
Mr Roche: The Deputy can indeed take it.

So now it is official. The Dublin City Manager is proceeding with the Incinerator.

The Labour Councillors, including Kevin Humphreys and Dermot Lacey, along with the majority of elected representatives, 32 to 5 voted against the proposal on 14 September 2004.

Despite that democratic opposition, it is now proceeding through the planning process with government support.