The Court has today at the request of Bord Pleanala put the hearing of the Judicial Review of the Ringaskiddy Incinerator planning permission back a month. The hearing is now scheduled to begin on 19 March 2019.
The Court has made some revisions to the timeline for exchange of documents in the meantime. The extension was triggered by the Board not meeting its deadline of last Friday for filing its Statement of Opposition. It explained to the Court that its legal team was in difficulty as the Board Chair had resigned and the new Chair only takes up office on 30 October. They asked to be allowed to file their Statement by 9 November.
CHASE legal team agreed to the extension provided there was no adverse effect on the time we will have to consider what they say, in November or in the later stages which relate to disclosure of documents (i.e. ‘discovery’) or preparing written submissions before the hearing. Bord Pleanala accepted that and the Judge also agreed with the CHASE position at this morning’s hearing.
CHASE Chairperson Mary O’Leary said that “CHASE has participated at every turn of the process on time and we are looking forward to the Court Hearing.”
The hearing was initially scheduled for February 2019 following a successful application to the High Court to challenge the grant of permission by An Bord Pleanala, issued on 29 May 2018, against the recommendation of the Board’s Senior Inspector.
CHASE was represented in court this morning by Maurice Collins SC and Alan Keating BL instructed by Noonan Linehan Carroll Coffey Solicitors.