9 November 2000 Edition
Councillor accuses Cork Corporation
Four years ago, after a long campaign, Cork Corporation agreed to close the city's Kinsale Road waste dump. Only six weeks ago, councillors passed two resolutions calling for an alternative site to be found for the location of a new planned Mixed Refuse Facility (MRF). They called on the City Manager to investigate other possibilities.
But now it appears that despite Corporation undertakings to residents that all waste activity would cease in the Kinsale Road area, the body's executive has decided to site the MRF at Kinsale Road after all.
Councillors have asked the executive to make available to councillors minutes and relevant information as to how, why and when city officials had decided, after all, to locate the MRF at Kinsale Road. The council executive has failed so far to do this.
Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan O'Brien has resorted to seeking the information under the Freedom of Information Act. ``It is disgraceful,'' he says, ``that councillors should be obliged to use this Act to obtain information about the activities of their own council.''
O'Brien had called for a ballot of the councillors to be held last Tuesday, on a Section 4 motion, directing the corporation not to site the MRF at Kinsale Road. However, this didn't happen. Thanks to more sectional interest shenannigans, this time from Fianna Fáil, the vote has been postponed until Monday. The Fianna Fáilers proposed another motion - with the same intent - to be considered next Monday.
But now it appears that despite Corporation undertakings to residents that all waste activity would cease in the Kinsale Road area, the body's executive has decided to site the MRF at Kinsale Road after all.
Councillors have asked the executive to make available to councillors minutes and relevant information as to how, why and when city officials had decided, after all, to locate the MRF at Kinsale Road. The council executive has failed so far to do this.
Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan O'Brien has resorted to seeking the information under the Freedom of Information Act. ``It is disgraceful,'' he says, ``that councillors should be obliged to use this Act to obtain information about the activities of their own council.''
O'Brien had called for a ballot of the councillors to be held last Tuesday, on a Section 4 motion, directing the corporation not to site the MRF at Kinsale Road. However, this didn't happen. Thanks to more sectional interest shenannigans, this time from Fianna Fáil, the vote has been postponed until Monday. The Fianna Fáilers proposed another motion - with the same intent - to be considered next Monday.