GOVERNMENT plans to burn BSE-infected offal make a joke of its opposition to hospital waste incineration, according to Fianna Fail's environment spokesman, Mr Noel Dempsey TD.
Last week, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, said incineration was the most viable option for destroying offal from BSE herds and that an incinerator could be built in 12 or 18 months.
A committee drawn from the departments of Agriculture, Health and the Environment is to report on the feasibility of setting up a £30 million incinerator for the purpose.
Mr Dempsey said in a statement the Government should now review its opposition to incineration of hospital waste in the light of this development.
At present, some medical waste is sent to Britain for disposal, and the Department of Health is working with the health services in Northern Ireland to develop a system which does not require incineration.
Mr Dempsey said the decision on BSE infected offal represents a U-turn in policy by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, to exclude incineration from his waste policy.
"This move makes a joke of the tender document for technology to dispose of hazardous hospital waste which explicitly excludes incineration as an option," he said.
The Government,"must come up with a cogent policy in relation to incineration