Campaigners opposing a new incinerator planned for Dublin have accused the Government of sending out mixed messages on the subject.
Green Party chairman John Gormley claimed Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats were at odds over whether to support the proposed Poolbeg plant.
He accused Tánaiste Michael McDowell and Minister for Environment Dick Roche of sending out conflicting messages.
"In Dublin south east, Minister Michael McDowell is still trying to tell us that the proposed incinerator at Poolbeg is not part of Government policy. Minister Roche's speech today once again demonstrates the opposite," Mr Gormley said.
Speaking to ireland.com Mr Gormley accused Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats of "sheer hypocrisy" over the incinerator issue. "Right now we have both Fianna Fáil and PD representatives in the area saying they are opposed to the incinerator."
Mr Roche today addressed a major conference in Dublin on energy issues. He said although recycling levels were increasing each year, other options had to be used to deal with the high levels of waste in Ireland.
"Incineration with energy recovery is internationally accepted as preferable to even the best engineered landfill, and the Government fully accepts the important role it will play in the future management of our waste," the minister said.
"The countries in the continental EU that extensively use incineration are also the very best performers when it comes to recycling. This is not an accident but a reflection of how an integrated approach to waste management should work," the Minister said.
Protesters opposed to the Poolbeg incinerator picketed the meeting, claiming burning tonnes of rubbish each week would pose untold health risks.
The Combined Residents Against Incineration (CRAI) claimed no one in Dublin would escape the side-effects of the planned massive incinerator and accused the Government of sacrificing people's welfare to save money. About 20 protestors attended the demonstration.
The planned municipal waste incinerator at Poolbeg is designed to burn 600,000 tonnes of rubbish a year, the equivalent to 25 per cent of Dublin's waste, at the 5.5-hectare site.
Additonal reporting PA
