Liz McManus TD

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McManus calls for Public Enquiry into Waste Licences

Issued : Tuesday 26 January, 2010

Following on from a Special Meeting of Wicklow County Council, Labour TD Liz McManus has undertaken to raise in the Dáil the decision by councillors to seek an enquiry into the granting of a waste permit licence in 2003.

"I am raising this issue with the Minister for the Environment out of my support for the Labour Councillors who presented the resolution to Wicklow County Council", said Deputy Liz McManus. "I believe there is a need to hold a full public enquiry into all aspects of the performance and functions of Wicklow County Council in the issuing of the waste permit licence in 2003.

"The debate at the meeting in Wicklow County Council which was proposed by Labour Councillor John Byrne dealt with many questions that need to be answered and the overwhelming support for the Labour motion clearly underscores the need for a public enquiry. In the past, Fianna Fail TDs Martin Cullen and Dick Roche who were former Ministers for the Environment failed to respond adequately to previous requests for enquiries on this issue.

"There are repeated calls from Environment Minister, John Gormley, for standards of excellence at local authority level. In this instance he can live up to his own standards by appointing an Inspector to hold a full public enquiry and I will be urging him to do so at an early date", concluded Deputy McManus.