Dublin South East Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Minister Must Invest in Recycling

Published: 7 February, 2004

Sinn Féin Representative for Dublin South East Daithí Doolan has called on the Minister for Environment Martin Cullen to invest in, "our fledgling recycling industry".

Speaking in Ringsend today Mr. Doolan challenged the Minister to "move away from his single issue agenda of imposing incineration on our community. Here in Ringsend we have a glass-recycling factory, the Irish Glass Bottle Company, lying empty since June 2003. I am calling on the Minister to invest in this factory. We have a trained workforce and an infrastructure to recycle all our waste glass. This factory was ruthlessly allowed to close by the government, yet Martin Cullen regularly preaches about how we must reduce our waste. Well now is the time for action and to invest in this factory.

Sinn Féin is leading a campaign against the proposed incinerator for this part of Dublin. We are committed to stopping the proposed incinerator being built here in Ringsend. There is no need for a hazardous incinerator to be built anywhere in Dublin. We need to be tackling the waste crisis at source not simply attempting to burn or bury it.

Sinn Féin will ensure that any attempt to build this incinerator here will be met with active and strong opposition. We are committed to reducing, reusing and recycling. This means investing in our recycling industry now, the factory is here and the workforce is here. We just need a commitment from the Minster and for the government to practise what they preach."