Tom MacSweeney: Battle lines being drawn again with revival of incinerator plan

MANY homes around Cork Harbour have received a letter from An Bord Pleanála, indicating that the planning dispute which has been the ‘battle of Cork Harbour’ for 23 years is entering a new phase.

Kevin McGettigan, executive officer at An Bord Pleanála, wrote to them regarding the “proposed development of a resource recovery centre, including waste-to-energy facility at Ringaskiddy.” This is the Indaver incinerator proposal, which is at the centre of what, most probably, is the longest-running planning controversy in the State.

In May 2001, Indaver announced its intention to build incineration facilities at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour. The description “incinerator” is widely used by the public.

CHASE (the Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment) has led legal and public opposition for over a fifth of a century. Its chairperson, Mary O’Leary, told me: “The letter that the community has received is the same letter as CHASE got in January 2024. It is simply Bord Pleanála fulfilling their obligations to inform the public that the case has been sent back to the Board by the High Court. We will have to await instruction from ABP as to what happens next.

“Indaver’s application was so seriously flawed and in breach of National Planning Law and EU Directives, that we hope ABP will refuse planning permission, as recommended by the inspector following the oral hearing.”

Indaver NV, trading as Indaver Ireland, headquartered in Belgium, with bases in Cork and Meath, said that it “looks forward to actively engaging with Bord Pleanála during the next phase of the planning process for our Ringaskiddy Resource Recovery Facility.”

On this latest development, An Bórd Pleanála said: “Given the passage of time, the applicant has been required to furnish further information in relation to effects on the environment of the proposed development.

“The holding of an oral hearing will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend on applicant’s response to the further information request.”

Checking the history of this long-running saga, I found in the Cork Open Research Archives a paper dating from January 2008: Learning Lessons from the Ringaskiddy Incineration Story, authored by Aodh Quinlivan and Timothy J McCarthy.

It summarised the situation after then six years of opposition: “The unfortunate legacy is that the process — which began in Cork County Council and which will ultimately end in the courts — has, from a public participation perspective, failed to create trust, credibility and legitimacy. This realisation is exacerbated by a fragmented approach by the public bodies involved and a lack of co-ordination or joined-up thinking between them. Where you have fragmented responsibility you have no responsibility.”

Comments of some politicians, still in office, then challenging community concern raise focus on what responsibility means!

Reaction of harbour residents to the latest development indicates ‘battle positions’ being taken up again.

THE BEAUTY OF TRADITION

Cork Harbour was resplendent on Sunday with the sight of sail, from Optimist dinghies sailed by youngsters to traditional vessels, crewed by sailors of all ages in Crosshaven Traditional Sail.

The weather was glorious after a disappointing cancellation on Saturday due to conditions unsuitable for sailing.

I met the crew of Barnabas from the Cornish Maritime Trust, the oldest boat, of 142 years after its voyage from Cornwall to Scotland, via Wales, to Cork to link the Celtic heartlands.

They were delighted with the welcome they got in Crosshaven and won the trophy for the longest journey to the event.

En route, they encountered rough conditions for a while, but this great old boat, the only one of its kind from a Cornish fleet that once numbered a thousand, weathered them and arrived safely to make a great sight as she sailed in Cork Harbour.

DANGERS OF SAILING

Sailing is a great sport, for all ages, but an aspect emphasised by a Marine Casualty Investigation Board report in the past week repeats concern it has expressed previously about safety issues associated with watersports.

This investigation is into the grounding of the racing yacht, Jelly Baby, on Bull Rock at Weavers Point in the entrance to Cork Harbour on Sunday, October 24, 2021, during the RCYC’s Autumn League.

It is 164-pages detailing how the incident developed from a problem encountered in sail handling while rounding a race mark. There were nine aboard, two jumped off into the water and were rescued.

The others got off after the yacht grounded. There were no injuries.

The boat was refloated, but declared a total loss by insurers. MCIB says it now sails on Belfast Lough.

The report refers to yacht racing as “a dangerous leisure time activity” and has made several recommendations to the Minister for Transport, the national sailing organisation and the RCYC about safety training for yacht crews.

The national organisation, Irish Sailing, has told the MCIB it will act on them because they have “general wide application and potential lessons for other clubs, training centres, national and regional racing organisations throughout the country.”

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