The head of the Environmental Protection Agency has angered anti-incinerator campaigners in Co Meath, by saying an incinerator project in the county will go ahead.
In a newspaper interview Ms Mary Kelly, director general of the agency, was reported to believe that "we will get domestic waste incinerators, beginning with the Indaver project in Meath where planning approval has been secured, though a judicial review is awaited".
The EPA said yesterday that this reflected her "personal opinion" and was not EPA policy.
Anti-incineration campaigner, Mr Pat O'Brien said the comments suggested the system of licensing for such projects was "farcical and undemocratic".
The EPA is expected to hold an oral hearing later this year into whether to grant a licence to Indaver Ireland for its municipal waste incinerator at Carranstown, County Meath.
A member of No Incineration Alliance (NIA), an umbrella group of organisations and individuals opposed to incineration, Mr O'Brien said "What is the point of a community group going through the very expensive process of taking part in an oral hearing if the powers at the head of the EPA believe such a thing should happen?"
The decision was taken by An Bord Pleanála earlier this year to grant permission for the €80 million project despite the inspector who chaired the oral hearing recommending it be refused. The planning process is now the subject of a judicial review brought by the NIA.
The group has consistently argued that, as directed by the EU, all health and environmental concerns should be taken into account.
Mr O'Brien said the EU Environmental Commissioner, Ms Margaret Wallstrom, supports the suggestion from the NIA, that EU funding should be made available to community groups campaigning on national issues related to EU policy.
"Most community groups are left fighting multi-nationals with bottomless pockets and we spend 75 per cent of our time wondering about fund-raising," he added.