Sinn Féin TDs table motion calling for release of bin charge protesters

In a Dáil motion tabled today Sinn Fein's five TDs accused the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Martin Cullen of being anti-democratic by depriving elected representatives on local authorities the power to determine waste management policy.

Published: 29 September, 2003

In a Dáil motion tabled today Sinn Fein's five TDs accused the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Martin Cullen of implementing policies that have led directly to a situation of confrontation in Dublin and the imprisonment of bin charge protesters. He is also accused of being anti-democratic by depriving elected representatives on local authorities the power to determine waste management policy.

The motion goes on to call for the immediate release of bin charge protesters and demands that the Minister bring forward legislation to amend the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 to ensure that local authorities fulfill their responsibility for public health and safety and provide a refuse collection to all householders.

Speaking after tabling the motion Sinn Fein spokesperson on the Environment and Local Government Arthur Morgan TD said:

"The ongoing confrontations taking place in Dublin between anti-bin charge protesters and local authority management are a direct consequence of the anti-democratic stance taken and policies adopted by the Minister for the Environment Martin Cullen. It is because of his actions that two people are in prison for taking part in principled and peaceful opposition to the unjust bin charges. We are calling for the release of these protesters and the ending of court action against all others. We are also calling the Minister to end his anti-democratic drive by amending his controversial Protection of the Environment Act 2003 to allow the elected representatives on local authorities the power to decide on waste management policies and strategies instead of un-elected city and county managers."ENDS

Sinn Féin motion

That the Dáil:

Deplores the fundamentally flawed waste management policy of the Government as implemented by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Martin Cullen which has

- led directly to the current situation of confrontation in Dublin and to the imprisonment of bin charges protesters, including elected representatives who should be released

- deprived elected representatives on local authorities of powers to determine waste management policy

- empowered and encouraged city and county managers to refuse to collect refuse from homes who have not paid the bin tax or who are in arrears, thereby creating a serious health hazard

- compounded the double taxation of refuse charges

- facilitated the privatisation of waste management and other local authority services

and

demands that the Minister bring forward without delay legislation to amend the Protection of the Environment Act 2003 to ensure that local authorities fulfil their responsibility for public health and safety and provide a refuse collection service to all householders and replaces refuse charges on householders with the proper application of the polluter pays principle to target the main producers of waste as part of a comprehensive and effective waste management strategy.

Arthur Morgan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Seán Crowe, Martin Ferris, Aengus Ó Snodaigh