While I am a bit down about my own result and that of my party nationally it must be put in perspective. Most people simply do not understand how important environmental issues are going to be over the coming years, including within the next five years of the local government term. In particular our media do not seem to have a clue. In choosing to effectively exclude the Green Party from local Government for the next five years, the Irish electorate has demonstrated that it is far more interested in giving out and looking backwards, rather than planning for a safe future for us all, and this is a decision that the electorate will come to rue. The only hope is that we stick at what we are doing in Government, putting the building blocks in place for us to deal with what is coming over the years ahead, and that in the next few years the Irish electorate, and the Irish media who have been dreadful over the past few years, start to understand what is really happening on our planet. We have to get away from our obsession with money and economics (witness George Lee’s huge vote) and realise that economics is just one pillar of good decision making, with the environmental and social pillars having equal importance. Unfortunately the electorate has all but eliminated those who understand the importance of the environmental pillar from local government, and largely replaced them with people who have limited understanding of any of the three pillars. A sad day for the future of this country.
Archive for the 'Environment' Category
Bad election for the Green Party – Bad election for Ireland
Published June 7, 2009 Economy , Environment , Local Elections , Local Government , National Issues Leave a CommentCllr. Donnelly welcomes Minister Gormley’s clarification of waste policy for all planning authorities
Published June 3, 2009 Cork Harbour , Economy , Environment , Incineration , National Issues , Planning , Ringaskiddy , Waste Leave a Comment3rd June 2009
Department of Environment circular to all planning authorities makes it clear that mechanical and biological treatments, not incineration, are to be the cornerstones of national waste policy in the future
The Green Party’s candidate for the Carrigaline area of Cork County Council and for Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, has welcomed the letter which has been circulated to all planning authorities around the country from the Department of the Environment, which clarifies that waste policy in the country is changing, with the emphasis switching away from incineration towards mechanical and biological treatment. This circular comes in advance of the full review of national waste policy which is currently being undertaken by consultants Eunomia, and which is due to be complete in July.
Cllr. Donnelly said: “This clarification that incineration is no longer a cornerstone of national waste policy, coupled with the recent introduction of an incineration levy comparable to the landfill levy, is highly significant for the planning application currently before An Bord Pleanála for two incinerators at Ringaskiddy. The oral hearing for that application is due to resume next Monday, and surely the message is coming loud and clear from Government that incineration is no longer part of Government policy. Given that when the Ringaskiddy incinerators were granted planning five years ago by An Bord Pleanála it was solely on the basis that it was Government policy, this clarification from Minister Gormley, I think now makes it impossible for the board to reasonably grant planning for the Ringaskiddy incinerators.”
“As well as this circular, and the recent incineration levies, I have seen the text of an order which Minister Gormley will be issuing next week, which in effect reinstates the Proximity Principle. This effectively means that any incinerator or landfill can only accept waste from whichever of the eight waste management regions in which it is situated. The Ringaskiddy incinerators would therefore be only able to accept waste from within County Cork. This really makes them non-viable financially, and so should be another nail in their coffin,” continued Cllr. Donnelly.
Cllr. Donnelly concluded: “With this series of measures introduced by Minister Gormley in recent weeks, I hope it is now patently clear that incineration is no longer a key component of national waste management policy. While an outright ban on incineration is not currently possible due to existing planning permissions in Poolbeg in Dublin, and in Carranstown, Co. Meath, it is now clear that Government policy is heading in that direction. Incineration is so clearly not the way we should be dealing with our waste. A proper waste industry based on reuse, recycling within this country, and mechanical and biological treatments is the only policy that makes any sense, both in terms of economics and the environment.”
Full text of Department of the Envrionment circular to planning authorities:
May 2009
Update on progress in respect of implementing the waste management provisions of the Programme for Government
I am directed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to update you on progress in respect of implementing the waste management provisions of the Programme for Government, and in particular the commitment to conduct an international review of waste management policy.
The Programme for Government makes major commitments in relation to national waste policy. In particular, there is an emphasis on moving away from the high reliance on incineration foreseen in the National Development Plan and reflected in the regional waste management plans for which the local authorities have statutory responsibility, generally operating in regional groupings. In this regard it is intended that there be an increased commitment to the use of alternative technologies, including those known as mechanical and biological treatment.
The Department’s Statement of Strategy 2008-2010, which is published on the Department’s web site and which was noted by Government in July 2008, states:
”The new Programme for Government indicates a further development of waste and resource policy in the direction of sustainability, in particular, to move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies and to minimise waste going to landfill, subject to the outcome of the review of the waste management strategy. This major international review being undertaken by the Department will address how best to implement waste prevention and minimisation, and the emergence of new technologies in waste management.”
Progress on the review of waste management strategy
Consultants have been retained to conduct the study of waste policy options which will underpin the conclusion of the overall review later this year. This work is well advanced and a series of interim reports has been considered by the Review Steering Group. It is considered that the study itself should be concluded on time, July 2009, with policy proposals being brought to Government shortly thereafter.
Interim policy measures
While this work is on target, it is acknowledged that progress towards meeting Ireland’s targets under the Landfill Directive and the requirements of the recently adopted Waste Framework Directive cannot wait. Therefore the Minister is pressing ahead with key initiatives which are compatible with the overall objectives of the review in order to meet the targets. These include:
- increase in the landfill levy and the introduction of a levy on incineration;
- roll-out of brown bin collections;
- intensifying efforts to promote at source/home composting;
- supporting small-scale local composting initiatives;
- encouraging access to waste streams for composting/anaerobic digestion, recycling and other processes high on the waste hierarchy; and,
- source segregated collection of commercial biowaste.
The Minister has also initiated a Strategic Environmental Assessment on proposed policy directions to the EPA and local authorities which would (in relation to their functions under the Waste Management Acts and any instruments made thereunder), inter alia, require the recipients to:
- limit incineration capacity to ensure that waste is not drawn to incineration which could have been dealt with by recycling or other methods higher up the waste hierarchy;
- refrain from exercising their powers in such a way as to direct waste to landfill or incineration.
The proposed policy direction is subject to consultation with both the public and all stakeholders, including local authorities.
The above are interim actions intended to help meet the Landfill Directive targets while implementing the commitments in the Programme for Government. The Minister considers that they are in line with the policies emerging from the overall review.
Queries in relation to this Circular may be addressed to the undersigned.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Layde
Principal Officer – Waste Policy: Review and Regulation
Cllr. Donnelly welcomes new tougher planning laws
Published May 28, 2009 Economy , Environment , Housing , Local Government , Planning Leave a Comment28th May 2009
Gormley’s changes will make it much more difficult for councillor’s to zone too much land for development
The Green Party’s candidate for the Carrigaline area of Cork County Council and for Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, has said that changes to planning laws announced today by Environment Minister John Gormley will allow for better planning in County Cork.
Cllr. Donnelly said: “The Green Party has brought in major changes to the planning system for the first time since tribunals were established to investigate corruption ten years ago. It will mean better services for our community based on sensible planning, and a clampdown on dodgy developments.”
“I particularly welcome the aspect of the new legislation which requires a two-thirds majority on the county or city council in order to zone land for development, whether it be for the adoption of the county development plan, or for an amendment to the plan. This will mean that no one party will be able to rezone land on their own, and should prevent the kind of corruption which Frank Dunlop used, and which has ended up with his imprisonment this week.”
Cllr. Donnelly continued: “In many ways the downfall of the Celtic Tiger happened in local authorities up and down the country getting too greedy, and zoning too much land for development. Much of this excess zoned land is what now makes up the toxic assets which have brought our banking system to the brink of collapse, and which have necessitated the setting up of NAMA. Most of this zoned land will see no development during my lifetime.”
“It was councillors from all the main parties, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin who voted through these zonings on councils up and down the country. On many local authorities, it was only the Green Party representatives that opposed the widespread zoning of land for development. A classic example of this was my Green Party colleague on Monaghan County Council, Vincent P. Martin, who was the only councillor to oppose the adoption of their county development plan, a plan which effectively allowed for the doubling of the population of the county. Where are all these people going to come from? They don’t exist, and this sort of overzoning is clearly ridiculous, but it has taken a Green Party Minister for the Environment to sort it out, as all the other main parties are up to their eyeballs in overzoning. They seem to be too busy looking after their friends and backers to do a sensible job,” concluded Cllr. Donnnelly.
Cllr. Donnelly concluded: “On a final note, these most welcome changes will promote a much more sustainable level of development, which will help support the economic renewal of the country, and will help break the cycle of boom and bust economics which all the main parties seem hell bent on continuing.”
New noise laws will bring peace to Cork residents, says Cllr. Donnelly
Published May 26, 2009 Environment , Noise , Passage West Leave a Comment26th May 2009
On the spot fines for nuisance noise will deter boy racers
Minister for the Environment John Gormley today announced details of new laws that will clamp down on nuisance noise. The Green Party’s local election candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and for Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly welcomed the announcement saying “This will be particularly beneficial to those living in noisy areas or near construction sites. Likewise it will also give relief in neighbourhoods where intruder alarms make life miserable for all.”
The Noise Nuisance Bill is part of the Programme for Government. The bill was approved by Cabinet last week and will go before the Oireachtas this autumn. Launching the bill Minister Gormley said: “The new noise laws will improve the effectiveness of the existing resources available to tackle nuisance noise issues. It will strengthen existing local authority powers and allow for a system of immediate fines both for residential and business offenders.”
Under the current system council officials are not able to take action immediately to stop sources of noise pollution, they can go through the courts but this takes weeks. Authorised officers from local authorities and An Garda Siochana will be given new fast-track powers to take prompt and effective action to deal with intruder alarms when they sound continuously at premises.
Cllr. Donnelly concluded: ”Noise pollution affects nearly everybody and can be a matter of particular concern for those badly affected by boy racers, late night parties, early morning construction work or neighbours with blaring intruder alarms. This legislation will also be of interest to those of us in Passage West living close to the dockyard, as there have been serious issues with noise pollution there for many years. The World Health Organisation has said that noise pollution can have serious public health affects including sleep disturbance, auditory and physiological effects. This new bill aims to improve quality of life and allow people inCork to get their well-deserved rest without interruption.”
Cllr. Donnelly welcomes €696,400 funding for recycling in County Cork from the Environment Fund
Published May 23, 2009 Economy , Environment , Litter , Local Government , Waste Leave a Comment23rd May 2009
Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for the Carrigaline area of Cork County Council, has welcomed the announcement from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, of funding for the operating costs of bring banks and civic amenity sites from the Environment Fund. Cork County Council will receive €696,400 out of a total allocation of €6.4 million nationally for the period July to December 2008. This is an increase of €1.4 million over the equivalent period in 2007. The money in the Environment Fund comes from the Plastic Bag Levies and the Landfill Levies.
Cllr. Donnelly said: “It is very welcome news that Minister Gormley has increased the level of funding from the Environment Fund to help local authorities defray the costs of running bring banks and civic amenity sites. With the global market for recyclates suffering from a huge drop in prices currently, it is costing all local authorities significantly more than it used to, to provide bring banks and civic amenity sites. This demonstrates the Government’s determination to support measures to aid the recovery and recycling of waste.”
Cllr. Donnelly continued: “I hope that Cork County Council will now use this increased funding to remove the gate fee of €3 for the civic amenity sites which they imposed earlier this year. This gate fee is proving to be a huge disincentive for the public to do the right thing, and recycle as much of their waste as they possibly can. In these times of economic constraint on many families, it is vitally important that they do not incur extra costs in order to recycle their waste in the correct way. It is vital that Cork County Council removes the €3 gate fee for civic amenity sites right away.”
Cllr. Donnelly says the people of Cork Harbour will never allow the incinerators to be built
Published May 15, 2009 Amenity , Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Environment , Heritage , Incineration , Marine , Monkstown , Passage West , Ringaskiddy , Transport , Waste Leave a Comment15th May 2009
Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for Cork County Council, addressed the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the Ringaskiddy incinerators yesterday. The hearing has now adjourned for the next three weeks.
After the hearing, Cllr. Donnelly, who is a member of the CHASE steering committee, said: “In my presentation to the An Bord Pleanála inspector I focused on three main areas. The first of these was that the direction of development in Cork Harbour has changed, away from being a purely industrial zone to becoming a centre for tourism, culture and amenity. With the closure of the steelworks and the IFI fertilizer factory, Cork Harbour now has the chance to reach its potential as a premium waterfront destination. The Cork Area Strategic Plan calls Cork Harbour ‘Europe’s most exciting waterfront’, and while it certainly has the potential to achieve that, it has not yet done so. However with plans to open up Spike Island to visitors, existing planning permissions for marinas at Monkstown and Passage West, the return next year of the Cork Swansea ferry service, and with ongoing efforts to have Cork City and Harbour achieve UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the impetus for development has clearly changed. The building of a huge obtrusive incinerator in the middle of all of this, would surely scupper any chance of Cork Harbour achieving the global recognition it should have. Sydney Harbour has its iconic Opera House, Cork Harbour would have a monstrous incinerator.”
Cllr. Donnelly continued: “I also discussed how my Green Party colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, has made clear statements as to how national waste policy is changing. Given that five years ago the incinerator was granted planning permission solely on the basis that it was Government policy, it is crucial that the inspector and the board understand that Government policy is shifting. While the full review of waste policy is still underway, and won’t be ready until the Autumn, the Minister has made many clear indications that the policy has shifted away from incineration. For example he recently indicated that there will be a doubling of the landfill levies later this year, with the introduction of a similar incineration levy, with the express intent of making it less economically viable to landfill or burn our waste, and to encourage waste minimisation, recycling and reuse.”
“I finished my presentation by focusing on how there is absolutely no community acceptance for the incinerators in the communities around the harbour, and beyond into the wider Cork community. These communities have fought the incinerators for eight years already unbowed, and will continue to fight for as long as it takes. I told the inspector that it would save our communities a lot of future grief is she refused this planning application now, but that the communities would never allow the incinerators to be built, whatever that takes,” concluded Cllr. Donnelly.
The full text of Cllr. Donnelly’s oral presentation to An Bord Pleanála is available at: http://dominickdonnelly.com/links/dominicks-oral-submission-to-indaver-oral-hearing/
Dominick’s oral submission to An Bord Pleanala on Ringaskiddy incinerators
Published May 14, 2009 Amenity , Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Economy , Energy , Environment , Heritage , Incineration , Marine , Ringaskiddy , Waste Leave a CommentCllr. Donnelly welcomes Minister Gormley’s initiative, which will help create thousands of jobs in the Irish recycling industry
Published May 13, 2009 Economy , Environment , Incineration , Waste Leave a Comment13th May 2009
Minister for Environment launches new Market Development Plan to create jobs from waste currently exported
Mr John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today launched an innovative €13 million Market Development Programme to develop new markets and help create new Irish jobs by transforming waste into new sustainable products. Targeting entrepreneurs, third level institutions, manufacturers and waste organisations, over the next five years, the Market Development Programme will identify and help develop markets for a variety of waste streams including plastics, paper, metals, organics, glass and wood. Entrepreneurs interested in creating new businesses from waste can get further information at www.mdg.ie.
Green Party member of Passage West Town Council, and candidate for Cork County Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, who co-authored the Green Party’s waste policy and who is very involved with CHASE in fighting the Ringaskiddy incinerators, said: “I welcome this initiative from Minister Gormley, which will help create a proper recycling industry in Ireland. In the past recycling in Ireland was only seen as the segregation of waste into different waste streams. Most of this was then exported to be reprocessed into something useful somewhere else. However a proper recycling industry in Ireland, where we treat our waste as a valuable resource, will create literally thousands of jobs and will be a huge boost to the Irish economy. This announcement from Minister Gormley is a first step along that road, where waste is no longer a problem, but is a valuable resource.”
Cllr. Donnelly continued: “I used to own and run the first green shop in Ireland, All That’s Green in Kinsale, where I used to import and sell many products made from recycled materials, such as stationery and plastics. Almost none of these recycled products came from Ireland. It struck me then how we should be treating all waste as a valuable resource, and turning it back into products which we can sell. The days of burying waste in a hole in the ground, or even worse, burning it in an incinerator, are thankfully coming to an end, and this Market Development Programme is very much part of the way forward.”
“I welcome this as the start of a new dawn in Ireland. I have been advocating for many years that we must not treat waste as a problem, but rather see it as a resource for recycling and reuse. This is the start of a whole new industry for Ireland, and I encourage all entrepreneurs to get involved,” concluded Cllr. Donnelly.
Cllr. Donnelly welcomes Green Party Leader’s clampdown on rogue builders
Published May 13, 2009 Environment , Housing , Local Government Leave a Comment13th May 2009
-Developers who leave housing estates unfinished to be targeted
Green Party candidate Cllr. Dominick Donnelly has welcomed moves by Environment Minister and Green Party Leader John Gormley to clamp down on rogue builders who leave housing estates and apartment blocks unfinished.
For the first time, Councils will be able to share information on bad builders and apply it to planning decisions, ensuring that those with a history of unfinished projects will be unable to get planning permission for their next project.
Green candidate Dominick Donnelly who is running for election to Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council said: “The issue of unfinished estates, with poor roads, neglected green areas and lack of lighting has been coming up on the doors again and again. Many of the housing estates built during the boom were never properly finished, leaving those who paid high prices for their houses to put up with neglected and in some cases, dangerous roads, footpaths and green areas.”
The clampdown initiated by Minister Gormley will result in a national system to share information between Councils, who can track a developer or builder’s previous record. Currently, local authorities cannot take a developer’s track record into account when considering planning permission, allowing rogue developers to reoffend.
“These welcome moves will encourage developers to finish off roads and footpaths and to finish garden landscaping, if they want to get permission for their next project,” concluded Cllr. Donnelly.
The new planning laws will come into effect under the Planning bill 2009, which is currently being finalised by Minster Gormley.
Cllr. Donnelly urges activists to apply for green funding from EU
Published May 8, 2009 Amenity , Cork Harbour , Education , Environment Leave a Comment8th May 2009
Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council, has urged environmental activists in South Cork to apply for EU funding to support projects on nature conservation and education. €1.7 billion will be provided by the EU in a programme designed to educate people on environmental matters.
Cllr. Donnelly said: “This is a golden opportunity to progress projects promoting environmental conservation and education. Some possible projects that could benefit from this funding are the development of a wildlife interpretive centre at Harper’s Island in the upper reaches of Cork Harbour, near Glouthaune, or the further enhancement of the Green Schools Project in schools in South Cork, or the expansion of National Tree Week to encourage the further planting of trees and the conservation of existing woodlands.”
“I am available to help any groups with their funding applications, and I will be working directly with a number of groups directly to help them receive the funding they deserve. This is great news for South Cork, but we must get our thinking caps on, get the ideas together and make sure the applications are done properly,” concluded Cllr. Donnelly.
Further Information: The following information is from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
The EU LIFE+ Programme 2007-2013 is a dedicated EU funding programme for environmental projects. Covering the period 2007-2013, Life+ will provide €1.7 billion for co-funded projects across the EU which are linked to nature conservation, environmental technology and the communication of environmental matters.
The European Commission is expected to issue its third annual call for proposals under the Life+ programme on 15 May 2009. The call will include full details and conditions regarding the submission of applications the closing date for which is expected to be 5 September 2009. Guidelines and applications forms for the 2009 Call will be available from 15 May 2009 at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm
In order to assist potential applicants, an information workshop, conducted by the EU Commission, will be held in the offices of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1 on 29th May 2009. Persons wishing to attend the workshop should contact: Brian Earley at Brian_Earley@environ.ie as soon as possible as places may be limited. Further information on the implementation of the LIFE+ Programme in Ireland is available at http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/SustainableDevelopment
