The opening day of An Bord Pleanála's oral hearing in Cork into the proposed toxic waste incinerator for Ringaskiddy was delayed yesterday because people had difficulty hearing the proceedings. Louise Geaney reports.
Over 200 people opposed to the incinerator - some wearing boiler suits and gas masks - attended the hearing at the Neptune Basketball Stadium.
Chants of "Indaver Out, No incineration" rang out to the rhythm of a drum roll, as the anti-incinerator campaigners waved their placards in the air.
However, the proceedings had to be adjourned for a time after it emerged that hardly any of the people in the stadium could hear what was being said.
"We're entitled to a proper oral hearing, but there's very little hearing going on here today. It's not good enough," spokesman for Cork Harbour Alliance for A Safe Environment (CHASE), Mr Séan Cronin, said.
The chairman, Mr Philip Jones, reassured people that the PA system was used every week for bingo and basketball, but his plea for "bearing with" the facilities fell on deaf ears.
"The people here should be able to hear what is being said. This whole set-up is undemocratic. I don't think people should have to play musical chairs or trip over each other to get to a microphone," said Mr Dan Boyle, the Green Party TD, after the proceedings were adjourned for an hour to attend to the acoustics.
While the PA system was enhanced somewhat, counsel for various third-party groups expressed their frustration with the Neptune's facilities. Some of them were adamant that they would not take part in the proceedings unless the situation was rectified overnight.
"This is a genuine problem and in the principle of equality, I'm concerned about the level of access to microphones - I don't think counsel for Indaver will have to move but the third-party groups will, and that does not seem fair," said Mr Joe Noonan, representing CHASE.
Mr Jones replied: "It's the best we can do in the circumstances. We looked at every venue in the city and this was the only one available to us, taking into account the number of parties interested in the proceedings. We also examined the possibility of having microphones for every party but that's impractical and would make the running of an oral hearing impossible."
One observer asked whether the appeals board had considered holding the hearing in a city church, given that a congregation always manages to hear the sermon.
"Churches weren't in mind because in a church one person alone speaks, and you don't expect the congregation to answer back," the chairman said, adding that participants should find the facilities better at the following day's hearing.
Planning permission for the €95 million facility was rejected by Cork County Council earlier this summer, when a majority of its members voted against the proposed facility.
Yesterday CHASE called on the Government to put a moratorium on incinerators, which will incinerate various hazardous wastes as a commercial business.