Fine Gael's Rejection "Outrageous" Following Comments, Say Greens

A Green party spokesman has slammed Fine Gael for criticising the government water quality failures, after it rejected a motion to build a treatment site.

The Green Party spokesperson on marine affairs, Ciaran Cuffe TD, has said it was "Ironic" Fine Gael accused the Environment Minister of not doing enough to improve water quality, while opposing a new waste water treatment plant at Shankhill in Dublin.

According to the minister, at last Monday's council meeting Councillors John Bailey, Maria Bailey and Louise Cosgrave of Fine Gael tabled a motion to halt the construction of a sewage treatment plant, which would lead to a dramatic improvement in water quality in Killiney Bay.

The bathing area at Killiney lost its Blue Flag status in late August due to high levels of water pollution.

Mr Cuffe said: "It is outrageous that Fine Gael are on the one hand criticising John Gormley for lack of action when their councillors oppose a state-of the art €70 million treatment plant at Shankill.

"Fine Gael has placed jobs and public health at risk by attempting to stop this plant's construction. It is disingenuous of Deputy Hogan to try and put the responsibility for EU action at the Minister Gormley's door when his colleagues are blocking the plans of local authorities."

On Thursday Fine Gael's spokesman for the environment Phil Hogan TD, attacked the Government, calling the environment minister, John Gormley's, failure to convince the Euro Commission he would resolve the wastewater problems as "incredible".

The scathing attack comes amid the European Court of Justice findings that Ireland is in breach of its obligations to waste water management, and could face stiff fines and penalties.

(DW/JM)