Republican News · Thursday 16 May 2002

Incinerator decision makes mockery of local government

The decision by South Tipperary County Council to grant an application by National By-products Ltd to build an incinerator in Castleblake on the Clonmel-Cashel Road makes a mockery of local government, says Sinn Féin general election candidate Muiris ó Súilleabháin.

"The decision to grant the application on Monday morning, 13 May, almost two full days before the deadline for objections was closed, can only be described as a cynical move," he said. "In effect, the County Council have ruled out any objections they may have received in the last two days before the deadline before they had even examined their content.

"The state and by extension its branches of local government, has a duty to protect its citizens and this decision threatens the lives and livelihoods of those who live within 25 miles of the proposed incinerator. Last weekend I attended anti-incinerator meetings in Ballyclerihan and Rosegreen and voiced Sinn Féin's support for the local communities as well as our complete opposition to any form of incinerators. Sinn Féin has been steadfast in support of local communities across the island in their fights against incineration and we will do the same in Tipperary.

"The campaign against this incinerator is only beginning, and I would call on all candidates for Leinster House in South Tipperary not only to voice their opposition against the building of this incinerator but against the building of any incinerators on this island. This should not be a case of 'not in my back yard' but instead a case of 'not in anyone's backyard'.

"South Tipperary Sinn Féin will give whatever support we can to the South Tipperary Anti-incineration committee and the local community in their campaign against National By-products proposals."