Press Release. Kathy Sinnott MEP, EU Petitions Committee.

EU Petitions Committee visit to Ireland
- sees proof of Irish Authorities
- humiliating environmental record

The first day of the European Parliament's Petitions Committee fact finding mission in Ireland is over and some shocking results have been noted.

"Yesterday we visited Tara to see the destruction of Ireland's most valuable archaeological site and last night held a public meeting in Galway for water issues. Today we have just finished a visit to a farming community damaged by the toxic red mud deposits from Aughinish Aluminia, in Limerick", revealed Kathy Sinnott, Independent MEP for Munster and Vice President of the Petitions Committee.

From visiting these sites and speaking with petitioners, what has been witnessed by MEPs from all over the EU is a complete disregard for the Irish environment. Neglect of the environment has now reached endemic proportions which is having a disastrous effect on local residents.

Mrs. Sinnott, also a Member of the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, stated, "My European colleagues accompanying me on this visit are taking very seriously the blatant neglect by the Irish authorities of this country's environment. Our Government has succeeded in humiliating Ireland in front of our European neighbours".

Kathy Sinnott, MEP calls on the Green Party to take this Government to task for its horrendous mismanagement of Ireland's environment over the decades.

"I urge the Government to act quickly. The Irish Authorities' consistent disregard for the implementation of environmental rules and ordinances is an embarrassment to the country and may well result in the EU having to take corrective measures".

For further information, questions or comments, please contact Kathy on:
+353 87 2786 552 (mobile), +32 228 47692 ( Brussels office) or +353 21 4888 793 (Cork office)

-ENDS-

For more information on the Petitions Committee:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/peti_home_en.htm

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