The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has insisted that he supports the Government's waste management policy even though he was opposed to the location of an incinerator at Ringaskiddy, in his Cork constituency.
The group campaigning against the incinerator said last night that Mr Martin and other local politicians would be invited to a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the decision by An Bord Pleanála to sanction the incinerator.
Mr Martin's spokeswoman said he was misquoted in a Sunday Times article in which he was reported to have said: "I hope people bring it further" in relation to the campaign against the incinerator.
"He said he respected their right to take it further," she said. "He didn't say that he hoped people would bring it forward."
The spokeswoman said Mr Martin had always expressed a "personal view" that the plans for an incinerator in Ringaskiddy were inappropriate because of the high concentration of pharmaceutical industries in the area.
"The decision is in line with Government waste policy. He supports the Government policy," she said.
A spokeswoman for the Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment group, Ms Linda Fitzpatrick, said many people in Ringaskiddy were "absolutely furious" with the stance adopted by Mr Martin.
Members of the group, which is threatening to run candidates in the local elections in June, plan a public meeting on Wednesday night at Ringaskiddy Community Centre.
The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, defended the decision of An Bord Pleanála, saying the board was independent and adding that Ireland had long needed a toxic waste incinerator.
She told RTÉ: "There is no other way of dealing with toxic waste in many instances, except by incineration."
While Fianna Fáil TDs in Cork expressed concern about the issue yesterday, they said there was no need to change the Government's waste policy.
One of Mr Martin's Fianna Fáil constituency colleagues, Mr Batt O'Keeffe TD, said it was "preposterous" that An Bord Pleanála would go against the advice of its own senior planning inspector to sanction the plant.
Mr O'Keeffe questioned the independence of the board, but said the application of the Government waste management policy was distinct from the policy itself.
The other Fianna Fáil TD in Cork South Central, Mr John Dennehy, did not return calls yesterday.
Mr Noel O'Flynn TD, Cork North Central, said he was devastated that An Board Pleanála would overrule its inspector.
While stating that the Government could not interfere with the board, he said there was no need to change the waste policy.
Mr Michael Moynihan TD, Cork North West, acknowledged concern about the decision but said it should be respected.
The Minister for Environment, Mr Cullen, refused to say yesterday whether incinerators would be covered in a new Bill to fast-track major infrastructure projects - a measure opposed by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.
"There's a lot of proposals being looked at.
"We're in discussions with all Government Departments obviously on those issues," Mr Cullen said.
