NEWS RELEASE: November 14, 2005 from COMMUTER NORTH RAIL USERS GROUP (CNRUG) COMMUTERS ALLEGE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY IN RAIL FARE RIP-OFF
Rail commuters are being ripped off by Irish Rail, a new rail commuters group has claimed. The group has revealed that rail fares can be almost three times more expensive, outside what Irish Rail describe as the “Outer Short Hop” zone which extends from Greystones to Balbriggan.
“For instance, Laytown is just five miles or seven minutes further out than Balbriggan, yet East Meath commuters pay nearly double the Balbriggan rate for their annual ticket,” said a spokesman for the group, adding “ if the cost per mile from Balbriggan was applied to annual tickets from Laytown and Drogheda, commuters would be paying €400-€500 less per annum. It’s an unsustainable rip-off.”
The culture of “rip-off” Ireland is alive and well on the Northern Commuter line, Irish Rail have increased their income significantly without the need for a fare increase at this time. ENDS Further info: Brian Hanratty (Laytown representative: 087 258 9768) RAIL USERS: Lobbying politicians (esp. Government ones) and media –
e.g. why not call LMFM’s “Loose Talk” 24 Hour Comment line NOW on 1850 365 958.
Write to/contact all other local and national media. Help us ….. help you.
PRESS RELEASE No Incineration Alliance, 27 Highfield, Drogheda 25/11/2005
EPA LICENCE INCINERATOR DESPITE NO HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT
- Local primary school sited just hundreds of yards from incinerator site -
The No Incineration Alliance (NIA) today restated their concerns about the risk to Public Health posed by the EPA’s decision to licence a large municipal waste incinerator which Belgian multinational, Indaver, plan to build between Duleek and Drogheda.
“Those running the oral hearings held by An Bord Pleanala in respect of planning, and the EPA in respect of licensing Indaver’s proposed incinerator indicated they had no mandate to assess the substantial evidence amassed by community groups on the risks posed to human health by incinerators,” said a spokesperson for the NIA, adding “there is a fundamental human rights issue involved in a process that disregards the need to assess the real risks posed by a plant which will emit dioxins and other highly toxic substances – both into the air, and in the thousands of tons of ash which such plants produce.”
Among those in the immediate area who will be exposed to emissions from the incinerator are the pupils of Mount Hanover Primary School, a few hundred yards away. Children are among those most at risk, and the NIA have expressed dismay at why the Health Services Executive and its predecessor, the North Eastern Health Board has not been required to articulate the risks such a plant poses for public health.
The NIA and other community groups point to what they regard as an EPA bias in favour of the waste industry, citing Martin Cullen’s controversial appointment of Laura Burke, a senior Indaver executive to a senior management position at the EPA. The EPA’s Director General, Mary Kelly, came from industry lobby group IBEC. The NIA are appalled that in August 2003, she was reported in the press as saying that “we will get domestic waste incinerators, beginning with the Indaver project in Meath where planning approval has been secured.” This statement alone, the NIA claim, coming well ahead of the oral hearing held in early 2005, completely undermines the credibility and integrity of the EPA and its licencing process, and they also challenge the EPA’s competence and commitment to rigorously police such a plant.
The NIA are also concerned that changes have been made by Environment Minister, Dick Burke to facilitate the disposal of waste outside regional boundaries, and fear that Drogheda and the Boyne Valley will become Dublin’s dumping ground. “For all these reasons, we will be scrutinizing the EPA’s licence today, while at the same time continuing to campaign against this plant, and fully support the case currently in the Supreme Court, taken by local resident Eric Martin.,” concluded the spokesperson. ENDS
Further info: Aine Walsh M.Env.Sc.NIA 087 783 1354
Pat O’Brien 086 1662018
Editor’s Note: The NIA have campaigned for over five years against the proposed plant, on the basis that it would damage the “health, wealth and heritage” of Drogheda and the Boyne Valley area, and its communities. Following the oral hearing, An Bord Pleanala’s inspector ruled in favour of the community’s opposition to the plant, only to be overruled by the Board itself. A local resident, Eric Martin has pursued the legality of the planning process, and his case currently awaits a decision of the Supreme Court. It is believed that Mr. Martin is prepared to take his case to Europe if necessary.
The NIA also state that advances in progressive waste management technologies across the world, including the policy of “Zero Waste” adopted by the New Zealand government mean that incineration should be the last resort as set out in the Hierarchy of Waste Management endorsed by the EU. (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle before considering the disposal options of landfill and incineration).
PRESS RELEASE Concerned Scientists & Engineers, Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co.Louth 25/11/2005 - Irelands newest city downwind of proposed incinerator site
The Concerned Scientists & Engineers today restated their concerns about the risk to Public Health posed by the EPA’s decision today to licence an industrial / municipal waste incinerator which Indaver Ireland propose to build near Drogheda, Ireland’s newest city when it reaches the projected population of 70,000 by 2020.
“The oral hearings held by An Bord Pleanala in respect of planning, and the EPA in respect of licensing Indaver’s proposed incinerator indicated the complete lack of scientific analysis with respect to risks posed to human health by such incinerators,” said a spokesperson for the CSE.
“There are fundamental scientific processes disregarded thus far in assessing the suitability of the site, such as baseline measurements of air and water quality in the area in which to use when calculating by how much the plant will emits dioxins and other highly toxic substances. These substances will be carried approximately 1km to the main water supply tower at Kiltrough – both by air on the prevailing South West winds , and in the thousands of tons of ash which will wash into the karst-limestone water table .
There are no early warning systems, electronic or otherwise, to predict and control a catastrophic event with such old technology; this was proven with recent emissions in Belgium when an Indaver plant there cracked leading to a full plant shutdown days after the event; food produce in the area had to be destroyed as contaminants were already in the food chain. ”
The CSE have questioned why the Health Services Executive and its predecessor, the North Eastern Health Board have not condoned the risks the plant poses for the health of children, staff and patients at the 16 playschools, 35 primary schools, 9 secondary schools and 14 hospitals in the local area. They have also questioned the local Farmers organisations and their silence on food quality.
CSE are also concerned that no attempt has been made by Environment Minister, Dick Roche to facilitate recycling in the region first, as there are still no local waste recycling amenities in the Drogheda environs . “We will check with the other groups in assessing the EPA’s licence and would ask the public to fully support the case currently in the Supreme Court, taken by local resident Eric Martin.,” concluded the spokesperson. ENDS