Republican News · Thursday 24 January 2002

Wood welcomes FG comments on incineration

Mayo Sinn Féin general election candidate Vincent Wood has welcomed comments by Roscommon Fine Gael Deputy Dennis Naughton in relation to the Connaught Waste Management Plan. In a statement last week, Naughton said that incineration should not be part of the Connaught waste strategy and that the consultants had grossly underestimated the recycling targets that could be achieved.

"I hope he will convey those views to both his party leader Michael Noonan and Alan Dukes, who are both staunch supporters of the incineration industry," said Wood. "Despite what might be said by Deputy Naughton and his party colleagues at local level, the fact of the matter is that Fine Gael are seriously contemplating introducing incineration if they find themselves in government after the next election.

"Numerous representations have been made by environmental groups and NGOs to the leadership of Fine Gael in relation to the incineration issue, but so far they have failed to illicit an answer from the party's hierarchy. There is a moral obligation upon the leadership of Fine Gael to tell the people of Connaught what exactly their policy is in relation to incineration and the waste issue in general. In light of Deputy Naughton's comments, there is a very clear divergence of opinion between him and the party leadership.

"It is clear where Sinn Féin stands and that is in total opposition to incinerators. We remain at the forefront of opposition to the Connaught waste plan as currently constituted and want to see a more rigorous and proactive approach by government to encourage recycling."