THE Galway West Labour Constituency Council has dissociated itself from the Minister for the Environment's decision to proceed with Galway's Mutton Island sewage treatment plant.
This follows the resignation of the party's director of elections in Galway West, Mr John Cunningham. Mr Cunningham resigned because of lack of consultation and environmental concern about the £23 million project. The Minister, Mr Howlin, decided to proceed without EU cohesion funding and despite the EU Commission's concerns about its environmental impact.
The Labour constituency council's stance reflects a party deeply divided in Galway West where two Labour councillors on Galway Corporation have consistently voted against the project. The controversy had left the party in Galway with its "morale severely dented", said constituency chairman Mr Liam Boyle.
A resolution stated: "The constituency council is unhappy with the recent decision of the Minister for the Environment on the proposed sewage treatment facility. We regret both the manner of the Minister's announcement and the lack of consultation with Labour councillors and the local party organisation, especially in view of Galway West Labour Party's opposition to the plant being well known.
The council regretted Mr Cunningham's resignation and asked that he reconsider.