RISK FROM the proposed Corrib gas pipeline “is no greater than that posed by existing transmission pipelines across Ireland”, according to Shell EP Ireland.
Speaking yesterday in Belmullet, Co Mayo, on the final day of the resumed An Bord Pleanála hearing into the last section of the controversial pipeline, senior counsel Esmonde Keane said Shell’s latest application had “satisfied all relevant criteria” set down by the planning appeals board in its letter of November 2nd, 2009.
“It is virtually certain . . . that no other Irish development proposal has been subject to such an amount of study and surveys over such a period of time,” he said.
Mr Keane argued the pipeline was designed to “the highest safety standards” and “to achieve the least impact possible on the environment”. Recognising the public’s fears, Mr Keane said the company “acknowledges the concerns of the public and has at all times regarded the safety of the community through which the pipeline [will run] as paramount.”
He addressed concerns, repeatedly expressed by observers during the hearing, about the impact on Dooncarton mountain, Co Mayo, of continuous tunnelling under nearby Sruwaddacon Bay, for the proposed 4.9km sub-sea tunnel. A catastrophic landslide left people homeless and graves floating out to sea in 2003.
“The application and the evidence before the hearing has demonstrated that there is no risk of landslides being caused or contributed to by reasoning of tunnelling, haulage or other construction activities, or the subsequent operation of the pipeline . . . in the area of Dooncarton mountain or elsewhere along the route,” Mr Keane said. He said the company had proposed 24-hour tunnelling to expedite the process and thereby “reduce so far as possible the community impacts associated with the operation”.
Mr Keane challenged an allegation made during An Taisce’s submission by Attracta Uí Bhroin that the applicant had deliberately presented “tardy” and “minimum” information.
During Mr Keane’s lengthy closing remarks, environmental consultant Peter Sweetman and local resident Monica Muller walked out protesting that Mr Keane’s remarks were “a legal submission” and not a closing statement. Retired teacher Ed Moran also protested at Mr Keane’s use of case law, as “outside the scope of the hearing”.
During an earlier closing statement, Mary Corduff noted that Thursday last, September 30th, was the fifth anniversary of her husband’s – a member of the Rossport Five – release from jail. “If the board gives permission our community will continue to be in conflict with the company, face imprisonment or worse,” she said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 4 October 2010
Foreshore licensing laws to be reformed
MINISTER FOR Environment John Gormley is planning new legislation which would transfer responsibility for foreshore licensing to An Bord Pleanála under a new fast-tracking system.
A marine spatial plan will also be drawn up in tandem with the legislation, similar to the national spatial strategy onshore.
The marine spatial strategy would inform planners with a view to ensuring competing projects do not conflict, or do not have a negative impact on sensitive habitats such as Natura 2000 sites around the 7,800 km-long coastline.
The new legislation will involve revising the 1933 Foreshore Act, responsibility for which has been transferred to the Department of Environment since the beginning of this year. The marine spatial plan does not require legislation, and Mr Gormley's department has already been in touch with the Marine Institute on data collection and analysis.
Mr Gormley confirmed at the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) conference in Galway last week that there were 700 foreshore license/lease applications with his department - a backlog which, he pointed out, his department had inherited from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The renewable energy sector and the aquaculture sector have expressed frustration with continuing delays caused by the backlog. Given that the Government has set a target of supplying 40 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, Mr Gormley is believed to be anxious to integrate foreshore licensing for offshore wind and wave installations with the Strategic Infrastructure Act's consent process.
Under the revised legislation, which could be in place by next year, Bord Pleanála's strategic infrastructure unit would deal with the foreshore applications for projects of a certain size. Smaller projects would continue to use the normal planning channels, but planners would be empowered to adopt an integrated approach to the onshore and offshore dimensions where applicable.
The 1933 Foreshore Act requires that a licence must be obtained from the State in advance of any works on State-owned foreshore. It applies to jetties and slipways, marinas, fish farms, coastal wind and wave projects, and to larger projects such as the Corrib gas pipeline, the Ringsend incinerator and the liquefied gas terminal on the Shannon estuary. It also applies to the State's first full-scale test site for wave energy at Annagh Head in north Mayo.
Mr Gormley told wind energy interests in Galway that he aimed to provide a "quality service for all stakeholders - Government, infrastructure providers, State bodies and the general public" through a new model. This would include a "plan-led policy framework for the approval of activities and developments in the marine environment", and integration of estate management on the State-owned foreshore within the wide planning system.
He also aimed to provide for a "single stage consent process for project approval", which would give "greater certainty of timeframes, including mandatory pre-application consultations, a rigorous assessment of environmental impacts, and full public participation".
IWEA chief executive Dr Michael Walsh has expressed concern that a lack of co-ordination between State agencies and consequent bureaucratic delays "threatening delivery of over 80 per cent of planned projects in a potential €20 billion and 20,000 plus job industry".
He has called for an energy "czar" to manage the Government's National Renewable Energy Action Plan if renewable targets for energy are to be met.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A marine spatial plan will also be drawn up in tandem with the legislation, similar to the national spatial strategy onshore.
The marine spatial strategy would inform planners with a view to ensuring competing projects do not conflict, or do not have a negative impact on sensitive habitats such as Natura 2000 sites around the 7,800 km-long coastline.
The new legislation will involve revising the 1933 Foreshore Act, responsibility for which has been transferred to the Department of Environment since the beginning of this year. The marine spatial plan does not require legislation, and Mr Gormley's department has already been in touch with the Marine Institute on data collection and analysis.
Mr Gormley confirmed at the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) conference in Galway last week that there were 700 foreshore license/lease applications with his department - a backlog which, he pointed out, his department had inherited from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The renewable energy sector and the aquaculture sector have expressed frustration with continuing delays caused by the backlog. Given that the Government has set a target of supplying 40 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, Mr Gormley is believed to be anxious to integrate foreshore licensing for offshore wind and wave installations with the Strategic Infrastructure Act's consent process.
Under the revised legislation, which could be in place by next year, Bord Pleanála's strategic infrastructure unit would deal with the foreshore applications for projects of a certain size. Smaller projects would continue to use the normal planning channels, but planners would be empowered to adopt an integrated approach to the onshore and offshore dimensions where applicable.
The 1933 Foreshore Act requires that a licence must be obtained from the State in advance of any works on State-owned foreshore. It applies to jetties and slipways, marinas, fish farms, coastal wind and wave projects, and to larger projects such as the Corrib gas pipeline, the Ringsend incinerator and the liquefied gas terminal on the Shannon estuary. It also applies to the State's first full-scale test site for wave energy at Annagh Head in north Mayo.
Mr Gormley told wind energy interests in Galway that he aimed to provide a "quality service for all stakeholders - Government, infrastructure providers, State bodies and the general public" through a new model. This would include a "plan-led policy framework for the approval of activities and developments in the marine environment", and integration of estate management on the State-owned foreshore within the wide planning system.
He also aimed to provide for a "single stage consent process for project approval", which would give "greater certainty of timeframes, including mandatory pre-application consultations, a rigorous assessment of environmental impacts, and full public participation".
IWEA chief executive Dr Michael Walsh has expressed concern that a lack of co-ordination between State agencies and consequent bureaucratic delays "threatening delivery of over 80 per cent of planned projects in a potential €20 billion and 20,000 plus job industry".
He has called for an energy "czar" to manage the Government's National Renewable Energy Action Plan if renewable targets for energy are to be met.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Metro North should go ahead as planned, says Broughan
METRO NORTH should proceed as planned, former Labour transport spokesman and TD for Dublin North East Tommy Broughan has said, despite comments by party Leader Eamon Gilmore that Labour in power would not go ahead with the project "in the short term".
Mr Gilmore was speaking on the Marian Finucane Show on RTÉ Radio on Saturday.
He said Labour would "redo" the National Development Plan and prioritise those projects likely to create the most jobs. "Metro North would be shot back," he said.
His comments have been supported by Joan Burton and Róisín Shortall, Labour TDs representing north Dublin.
Work to build the line from St Stephen's Green to Dublin airport and the north of the county is set to begin next April pending approval from An Bord Pleanála later this month.
Mr Broughan, who was Labour transport spokesman until last summer when he lost the party whip after absenting himself from a vote on the legislation to ban stag hunting, said he had not heard the interview with Marian Finucane, but that the construction of the Metro had clear economic benefits.
"I think it's a very important investment in the economy. It's vital to bring Dublin's transport infrastructure up to 20th century standards, let alone 21st century. It should go ahead as planned."
The fact that the Metro would be built through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with private investment repaid over a long-term period, meant it would not worsen the current economic situation, Mr Broughan said.
"I don't see what it has to do with the current economic circumstances. It's like a hire purchase agreement, it's paid over a long-term period," he added.
However, the party's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton, who last year said proceeding with Metro North "as soon as possible" was a "no-brainer", yesterday said availability of funding for the project would have to be examined.
"I am a well-known supporter of the Metro, but it is now a question of phasing . . . Clearly just right now the availability of funding and the ranking of funding in order is something that has to be looked at."
Mr Gilmore's comments were made in the context of the funding "crisis" in which the Fianna Fáil-led Government had left the country, Ms Burton said.
"Eamon was just saying that we have to look realistically at the Metro in terms of the crises we have been left in."
In a statement last year Ms Burton said construction would likely be "revenue neutral" to the taxpayer.
Dublin North West TD Róisín Shortall said she remained a strong supporter of the Metro but that it "may have to be put back" for financial reasons. "I think what Eamon Gilmore said was that the Metro is up for review. Everything in the National Development Plan is up for review."
The project was reliant on private sector funding which was unlikely to be forthcoming in the short to medium term.
"There seems to be very little interest from the private at the moment . . . The private sector isn't likely to want to get involved and so it's very hard to see it happening this year or next year."
Joe Costello, who took over from Mr Broughan as transport spokesman and represents Dublin Central could not be contacted yesterday.
Fine Gael and the Green north Dublin TDs strongly criticised Mr Gilmore's comments and said postponing the project would jeopardise jobs.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said he was shocked by Labour's attitude to the project. "They claim they will invest in jobs and critical infrastructure . . . Now is the time to invest in jobs in Dublin North."
Former Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Mr Gilmore did not understand how economic recovery was achieved.
"It is abundantly clear that Labour will cause more damage to the economy by making short-termist decisions that will be counterproductive to job creation," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Gilmore was speaking on the Marian Finucane Show on RTÉ Radio on Saturday.
He said Labour would "redo" the National Development Plan and prioritise those projects likely to create the most jobs. "Metro North would be shot back," he said.
His comments have been supported by Joan Burton and Róisín Shortall, Labour TDs representing north Dublin.
Work to build the line from St Stephen's Green to Dublin airport and the north of the county is set to begin next April pending approval from An Bord Pleanála later this month.
Mr Broughan, who was Labour transport spokesman until last summer when he lost the party whip after absenting himself from a vote on the legislation to ban stag hunting, said he had not heard the interview with Marian Finucane, but that the construction of the Metro had clear economic benefits.
"I think it's a very important investment in the economy. It's vital to bring Dublin's transport infrastructure up to 20th century standards, let alone 21st century. It should go ahead as planned."
The fact that the Metro would be built through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with private investment repaid over a long-term period, meant it would not worsen the current economic situation, Mr Broughan said.
"I don't see what it has to do with the current economic circumstances. It's like a hire purchase agreement, it's paid over a long-term period," he added.
However, the party's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton, who last year said proceeding with Metro North "as soon as possible" was a "no-brainer", yesterday said availability of funding for the project would have to be examined.
"I am a well-known supporter of the Metro, but it is now a question of phasing . . . Clearly just right now the availability of funding and the ranking of funding in order is something that has to be looked at."
Mr Gilmore's comments were made in the context of the funding "crisis" in which the Fianna Fáil-led Government had left the country, Ms Burton said.
"Eamon was just saying that we have to look realistically at the Metro in terms of the crises we have been left in."
In a statement last year Ms Burton said construction would likely be "revenue neutral" to the taxpayer.
Dublin North West TD Róisín Shortall said she remained a strong supporter of the Metro but that it "may have to be put back" for financial reasons. "I think what Eamon Gilmore said was that the Metro is up for review. Everything in the National Development Plan is up for review."
The project was reliant on private sector funding which was unlikely to be forthcoming in the short to medium term.
"There seems to be very little interest from the private at the moment . . . The private sector isn't likely to want to get involved and so it's very hard to see it happening this year or next year."
Joe Costello, who took over from Mr Broughan as transport spokesman and represents Dublin Central could not be contacted yesterday.
Fine Gael and the Green north Dublin TDs strongly criticised Mr Gilmore's comments and said postponing the project would jeopardise jobs.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said he was shocked by Labour's attitude to the project. "They claim they will invest in jobs and critical infrastructure . . . Now is the time to invest in jobs in Dublin North."
Former Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Mr Gilmore did not understand how economic recovery was achieved.
"It is abundantly clear that Labour will cause more damage to the economy by making short-termist decisions that will be counterproductive to job creation," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Divisions in Labour over Metro
Metro North should proceed as planned, former Labour transport spokesman and TD for Dublin North East Tommy Broughan has said, despite comments by party Leader Eamon Gilmore that Labour in power would not go ahead with the project "in the short term".
Mr Gilmore was speaking on the Marian Finucane Show on RTÉ Radio on Saturday.
He said Labour would "redo" the National Development Plan and prioritise those projects likely to create the most jobs. "Metro North would be shot back," he said.
His comments have been supported by Joan Burton and Róisín Shortall, Labour TDs representing north Dublin.
Work to build the line from St Stephen's Green to Dublin airport and the north of the county is set to begin next April pending approval from An Bord Pleanála later this month.
Mr Broughan, who was Labour transport spokesman until last summer when he lost the party whip after absenting himself from a vote on the legislation to ban stag hunting, said he had not heard the interview with Marian Finucane, but that the construction of the Metro had clear economic benefits.
"I think it's a very important investment in the economy. It's vital to bring Dublin's transport infrastructure up to 20th century standards, let alone 21st century. It should go ahead as planned."
The fact that the Metro would be built through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with private investment repaid over a long-term period, meant it would not worsen the current economic situation, Mr Broughan said.
"I don't see what it has to do with the current economic circumstances. It's like a hire purchase agreement, it's paid over a long-term period," he added.
However, the party's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton, who last year said proceeding with Metro North "as soon as possible" was a "no-brainer", yesterday said availability of funding for the project would have to be examined.
"I am a well-known supporter of the Metro, but it is now a question of phasing . . . Clearly just right now the availability of funding and the ranking of funding in order is something that has to be looked at."
Mr Gilmore's comments were made in the context of the funding "crisis" in which the Fianna Fáil-led Government had left the country, Ms Burton said.
"Eamon was just saying that we have to look realistically at the Metro in terms of the crises we have been left in."
In a statement last year Ms Burton said construction would likely be "revenue neutral" to the taxpayer.
Dublin North West TD Róisín Shortall said she remained a strong supporter of the Metro but that it "may have to be put back" for financial reasons. "I think what Eamon Gilmore said was that the Metro is up for review. Everything in the National Development Plan is up for review."
The project was reliant on private sector funding which was unlikely to be forthcoming in the short to medium term.
"There seems to be very little interest from the private at the moment . . . The private sector isn't likely to want to get involved and so it's very hard to see it happening this year or next year."
Joe Costello, who took over from Mr Broughan as transport spokesman and represents Dublin Central could not be contacted yesterday.
Fine Gael and the Green north Dublin TDs strongly criticised Mr Gilmore's comments and said postponing the project would jeopardise jobs.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said he was shocked by Labour's attitude to the project. "They claim they will invest in jobs and critical infrastructure . . . Now is the time to invest in jobs in Dublin North."
Former Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Mr Gilmore did not understand how economic recovery was achieved.
"It is abundantly clear that Labour will cause more damage to the economy by making short-termist decisions that will be counterproductive to job creation," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Gilmore was speaking on the Marian Finucane Show on RTÉ Radio on Saturday.
He said Labour would "redo" the National Development Plan and prioritise those projects likely to create the most jobs. "Metro North would be shot back," he said.
His comments have been supported by Joan Burton and Róisín Shortall, Labour TDs representing north Dublin.
Work to build the line from St Stephen's Green to Dublin airport and the north of the county is set to begin next April pending approval from An Bord Pleanála later this month.
Mr Broughan, who was Labour transport spokesman until last summer when he lost the party whip after absenting himself from a vote on the legislation to ban stag hunting, said he had not heard the interview with Marian Finucane, but that the construction of the Metro had clear economic benefits.
"I think it's a very important investment in the economy. It's vital to bring Dublin's transport infrastructure up to 20th century standards, let alone 21st century. It should go ahead as planned."
The fact that the Metro would be built through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with private investment repaid over a long-term period, meant it would not worsen the current economic situation, Mr Broughan said.
"I don't see what it has to do with the current economic circumstances. It's like a hire purchase agreement, it's paid over a long-term period," he added.
However, the party's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton, who last year said proceeding with Metro North "as soon as possible" was a "no-brainer", yesterday said availability of funding for the project would have to be examined.
"I am a well-known supporter of the Metro, but it is now a question of phasing . . . Clearly just right now the availability of funding and the ranking of funding in order is something that has to be looked at."
Mr Gilmore's comments were made in the context of the funding "crisis" in which the Fianna Fáil-led Government had left the country, Ms Burton said.
"Eamon was just saying that we have to look realistically at the Metro in terms of the crises we have been left in."
In a statement last year Ms Burton said construction would likely be "revenue neutral" to the taxpayer.
Dublin North West TD Róisín Shortall said she remained a strong supporter of the Metro but that it "may have to be put back" for financial reasons. "I think what Eamon Gilmore said was that the Metro is up for review. Everything in the National Development Plan is up for review."
The project was reliant on private sector funding which was unlikely to be forthcoming in the short to medium term.
"There seems to be very little interest from the private at the moment . . . The private sector isn't likely to want to get involved and so it's very hard to see it happening this year or next year."
Joe Costello, who took over from Mr Broughan as transport spokesman and represents Dublin Central could not be contacted yesterday.
Fine Gael and the Green north Dublin TDs strongly criticised Mr Gilmore's comments and said postponing the project would jeopardise jobs.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said he was shocked by Labour's attitude to the project. "They claim they will invest in jobs and critical infrastructure . . . Now is the time to invest in jobs in Dublin North."
Former Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Mr Gilmore did not understand how economic recovery was achieved.
"It is abundantly clear that Labour will cause more damage to the economy by making short-termist decisions that will be counterproductive to job creation," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Metro North is 'essential', says Dublin business body
DUBLIN CHAMBER of Commerce has dismissed fears that construction of Metro North will cause major disruption for city centre businesses, and welcomed the news that work could begin on the project in April.
It has also criticised the city’s current transport infrastructure as “inadequate”, and said investment in the metro was needed to attract new business to Dublin.
“The construction of Metro North is essential to tackling the transport deficit in order to attract new business and make Dublin a better city to live and work in,” said Gina Quin, Dublin chamber chief executive.
She said the chamber had spent the past two years working with the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council and other agencies to minimise disruption during the construction phase.
Ms Quin said an agreed traffic-management plan would ensure that access was maintained to all premises fronting on to the works for pedestrians and those whose mobility was impaired. All car parks would be maintained, and adequate footpath widths and crossings would be provided.
“Dublin’s traffic congestion has cost business billions and jobs coming to Ireland. The public transport story as it stands focuses on the problem of getting people from A to B. But it’s more than that. It’s also about protecting our environment and creating clusters of industries or businesses.
“Projects like Metro North and the Luas are vital, not just to move people around more efficiently but to stimulate economic growth as well,” said Ms Quin.
The agency said yesterday that work on the long-awaited Metro North line from St Stephen’s Green to Dublin airport and north Co Dublin would begin in April.
Following delays in the planning process, An Bord Pleanála last month wrote to the agency stating its intention to issue a decision on the railway order for the metro by the end of October.
However, several city businesses are now calling for the Government to cancel the project or postpone it until the economy recovers. Businessman Colm Carroll, who owns nine gift shops in the city centre, has recently launched No To Metro North, a campaign to stop the project which he said would “rip the whole city apart”, costing thousands of jobs and closing firms.
Drew Flood, general manager of Cliff Town House, formerly Bentleys on St Stephen’s Green, is also critical of the project. “It’s going to be like Baghdad. It would be like taking the Champs Elysées, taking Mayfair, and turning it into Baghdad. It will be the death knell of Stephen’s Green and the death knell of Grafton Street.”
Independent MEP Marian Harkin last night joined opponents of Metro North, describing it as “ unrealistic and unnecessary”.
“Cost-effective organisations like the Western Development Commission are threatened with closure while multimillion euro vanity projects such as Dublin’s Metro North are to proceed without any proof that they are needed and can stand up to financial scrutiny.
“Having regard to the fact that Dublin airport is now very well serviced with public and private transport operators from all over Ireland, and that the Port Tunnel is currently under-used, the major original justification for Metro North is gone.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
It has also criticised the city’s current transport infrastructure as “inadequate”, and said investment in the metro was needed to attract new business to Dublin.
“The construction of Metro North is essential to tackling the transport deficit in order to attract new business and make Dublin a better city to live and work in,” said Gina Quin, Dublin chamber chief executive.
She said the chamber had spent the past two years working with the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council and other agencies to minimise disruption during the construction phase.
Ms Quin said an agreed traffic-management plan would ensure that access was maintained to all premises fronting on to the works for pedestrians and those whose mobility was impaired. All car parks would be maintained, and adequate footpath widths and crossings would be provided.
“Dublin’s traffic congestion has cost business billions and jobs coming to Ireland. The public transport story as it stands focuses on the problem of getting people from A to B. But it’s more than that. It’s also about protecting our environment and creating clusters of industries or businesses.
“Projects like Metro North and the Luas are vital, not just to move people around more efficiently but to stimulate economic growth as well,” said Ms Quin.
The agency said yesterday that work on the long-awaited Metro North line from St Stephen’s Green to Dublin airport and north Co Dublin would begin in April.
Following delays in the planning process, An Bord Pleanála last month wrote to the agency stating its intention to issue a decision on the railway order for the metro by the end of October.
However, several city businesses are now calling for the Government to cancel the project or postpone it until the economy recovers. Businessman Colm Carroll, who owns nine gift shops in the city centre, has recently launched No To Metro North, a campaign to stop the project which he said would “rip the whole city apart”, costing thousands of jobs and closing firms.
Drew Flood, general manager of Cliff Town House, formerly Bentleys on St Stephen’s Green, is also critical of the project. “It’s going to be like Baghdad. It would be like taking the Champs Elysées, taking Mayfair, and turning it into Baghdad. It will be the death knell of Stephen’s Green and the death knell of Grafton Street.”
Independent MEP Marian Harkin last night joined opponents of Metro North, describing it as “ unrealistic and unnecessary”.
“Cost-effective organisations like the Western Development Commission are threatened with closure while multimillion euro vanity projects such as Dublin’s Metro North are to proceed without any proof that they are needed and can stand up to financial scrutiny.
“Having regard to the fact that Dublin airport is now very well serviced with public and private transport operators from all over Ireland, and that the Port Tunnel is currently under-used, the major original justification for Metro North is gone.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Former steel plant waste dump has no permit
The government has told the European Commission that there is no permit for a waste dump on the site of the former Irish Steel plant at Haulbowline in Co Cork.
The EU commission has been investigating whether the site complies with EU law after it received a complaint about the dump in 2009. The steel works closed in 2001.
In response to a European Commission request for information, the Irish government confirmed that, during a site clean-up organised by officials from the Department of the Environment, a hazardous sludge pit was discovered at the site.
The site is owned by the state, which carries all liability arising from it, including any commitment to make it compliant with EU environment law.
The department hired a team of consultants to conduct an environmental assessment at the dump, which is now referred to as the east tip.
The expert study concluded that there was no threat to human health in the area arising from the dump, despite the presence of significant contaminants on the site.
‘‘Inasmuch as the east tip appears to have served as a disposal site for waste from the steel works during its period of operation, the circumstances point to the need for it to have been the subject of a waste permit under EU waste framework legislation of the European Parliament and of the council on waste," read a briefing given to the European Parliament by Janez Potocnik, EU Environment Commissioner.
‘‘However, the Irish authorities have indicated that the relevant licence under Irish law was invalidated by the Irish High Court in 2004 and that there is currently no permit in place," The update followed a series of queries from Irish MEPs on the EU’s stance in relation to the dump, including one from Fianna Fáil MEP Sean Kelly.
‘‘The Irish authorities have set up a working group to consider the future use of the site and indicated that the relevant permit arrangements are dependent on the outcome of this," Potocnik told MEPs in a letter dated September 1.
‘‘In the light of this information, the commission is considering the next appropriate steps to take," In his query to the commission, Kelly said the Irish National Cancer Registry had ‘‘proved that the island of Cobh has one of the highest cancer rates in the country’’.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
The EU commission has been investigating whether the site complies with EU law after it received a complaint about the dump in 2009. The steel works closed in 2001.
In response to a European Commission request for information, the Irish government confirmed that, during a site clean-up organised by officials from the Department of the Environment, a hazardous sludge pit was discovered at the site.
The site is owned by the state, which carries all liability arising from it, including any commitment to make it compliant with EU environment law.
The department hired a team of consultants to conduct an environmental assessment at the dump, which is now referred to as the east tip.
The expert study concluded that there was no threat to human health in the area arising from the dump, despite the presence of significant contaminants on the site.
‘‘Inasmuch as the east tip appears to have served as a disposal site for waste from the steel works during its period of operation, the circumstances point to the need for it to have been the subject of a waste permit under EU waste framework legislation of the European Parliament and of the council on waste," read a briefing given to the European Parliament by Janez Potocnik, EU Environment Commissioner.
‘‘However, the Irish authorities have indicated that the relevant licence under Irish law was invalidated by the Irish High Court in 2004 and that there is currently no permit in place," The update followed a series of queries from Irish MEPs on the EU’s stance in relation to the dump, including one from Fianna Fáil MEP Sean Kelly.
‘‘The Irish authorities have set up a working group to consider the future use of the site and indicated that the relevant permit arrangements are dependent on the outcome of this," Potocnik told MEPs in a letter dated September 1.
‘‘In the light of this information, the commission is considering the next appropriate steps to take," In his query to the commission, Kelly said the Irish National Cancer Registry had ‘‘proved that the island of Cobh has one of the highest cancer rates in the country’’.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Council seeks plan from Siptu over Liberty Hall project
Trade union Siptu has been told to provide a business and management plan for a proposed heritage centre at Liberty Hall, the office tower that the union hopes to redevelop.
The union will have to address any conflict between the heritage centre and the "potential perceived negative impacts this building may have on the tourist sustainability of the city's Georgian quarter", Dublin City Council has said.
The council also wants further information on the proposed 19-storey building for the site. Further justification of the design is required, it said, and it also wants more details on the "innovativeness of the proposed material finishes" to the building.
The original building was constructed in 1965 and, at 17 storeys in height, is Dublin's second-tallest building.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The union will have to address any conflict between the heritage centre and the "potential perceived negative impacts this building may have on the tourist sustainability of the city's Georgian quarter", Dublin City Council has said.
The council also wants further information on the proposed 19-storey building for the site. Further justification of the design is required, it said, and it also wants more details on the "innovativeness of the proposed material finishes" to the building.
The original building was constructed in 1965 and, at 17 storeys in height, is Dublin's second-tallest building.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
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