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Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment

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Notes not found on file for two 2011 meetings between Dept of Environment & Indaver

May 23, 2018 by CHASE

letters-ref-incomplete-information

CALL FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION

Information provided in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from CHASE seeking information on meetings and correspondence between Indaver and its agents or representatives and the Department of Environment indicates that meetings took place between Indaver and the Department of the Environment in 2011 for which no minutes or notes are to be found on file.

Two incidences of meetings in 2011 were referred to in letters provided in response to the FOI request, with no notes or minutes in respect of those meetings included even though the meetings fell within the period requested and the scope of the request.

Information was requested for the March – September 2011 period, a time frame which saw a change in Government (Feb 2011), a refusal of planning for the Ringaskiddy Incinerator (9 June 2011) and the abolishment of the incinerator levy (September 2011).  Information provided shows it to be a period of active lobbying.

An appeal by CHASE on the basis of an incomplete response and requesting actual detail of the meetings confirmed that on “examination of the available records within the Department and the relevant section, no records could be found in relation to either of these, despite a fresh search of all of the existing files.”

Letters included in the original FOI grant refer as follows to two instances of meetings for which no notes or records were attached, despite those meetings falling within the requested timeframe:

1. In a letter from Mr John Ahern, Indaver  to Mr John McCarthy Assistant Sec Department of Environment, dated 1 March 2011, Mr Ahern refers to “our upcoming meeting on 9 March next”.

2. In a letter from Mr John McCarthy, Department of Environment  to Ms Jackie Keaney, Indaver dated  24 August 2011, Mr McCarthy refers to Ms Keaney’s letter of 20 July 2011 (also not included in response) and to their meeting on 15 July 2011, with the opening line “Thank you for your letter of 20 July 2011 in follow up to our meeting on 15 July 2011”.
CHASE PRO, Linda Fitzpatrick said “It is of serious concern to us that a company with such vast vested interest in legislative change can hold undocumented meetings with a Government Department and/or it’s officials.  It is completely contrary to all best practice guidelines and naturally raises questions.

We believe that further investigation of why notes for these meetings are not on file is merited, as well as investigation of how widespread this practice is.  We believe this is necessary to ensure public confidence in the operation of the Dept of Environment and  in the transparency of Department dealings with Indaver.

We have no hesitation in stating that we do not trust Indaver. The incredible errors in their dioxin information exposed only by community experts on the final day of the hearing are just one highlight of why this lack of faith is justified. But we need to be able to trust the Department of the Environment.

Our community has been fighting this proposal for over 17 years now, on a site that fails miserably to fulfill siting recommendations for such waste facilities. We have engaged in this process as it is set out before us at every opportunity, but are very concerned at the behind the scenes access which Indaver appear to have at all stages of the process, whether with County Council, with Bord Pleanala via a 3 year pre-consultation engagement before lodging planning, or in this case with the Department of the Environment.”

CHASE has provided a full file of documentation to the 4 Dail representatives for the Ringaskiddy area with a request for assistance via any avenue within their scope in seeking further investigation of Department Environment practice of not keeping notes of meetings.

 

Filed Under: Circulation, News, Press Releases, Uncategorized

Oral Hearing 2016 headlines

  • Serious dioxin figure irregularities exposed as Hearing comes to close
  • No measuring of nanoparticles – not practical, Indaver tell hearing
  • Indaver facility will carry strategic implications for the State – Indaver offer to shut down for Department when needed
  • Indaver to abandon fire fighting after just 2 hours
  • Final Submissions today, questions next week
  • Indaver selective quotation omits that incinerators likely to cause premature deaths
  • 13 year old Cobh student calls for baseline health study for Harbour
  • “There is no risk assessment” – says top Epidemiologist Anthony Staines
  • No safe level of exposure to tiny particulates, says toxico pathologist
  • Royal flush as all TD’s unite to protect the new era for Cork Harbour
  • Ringaskiddy incinerator live plume plot launched
  • Statement from Department of Defence
  • Human Health needs the same standard as protected species: CHASE Opening Statement
  • Indaver experts confirm: High Tide is now inside the site boundary. No separate Health Impact Assessment
  • Packed hearing opens at Carrigaline Court Hotel
  • Full CHASE Submission to An Bord Pleanala

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ABOUT CHASE

CHASE is an alliance of groups campaigning since 2001 to stop the construction of a large 240,000 tonne commercial incinerator in Cork Harbour. The third application from Indaver Ireland was lodged … Read More...

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