Minutes:
The Lord Mayor opened the meeting by expressing condolences on his own behalf and on behalf of the City Council to the families and friends of the following recently deceased:
• In Manchester - Those who died and were injured in Manchester on 22nd May when a bomb was detonated at the end of a concert in the Manchester Arena. A Book of Condolence was opened in the Mansion House which was signed by Dubliners who wanted to express their solidarity with the people of Manchester.
• In London - Those who died and injured in London on Saturday 3rd June in the terrorist attack at London Bridge and Borough Market.
• The Most Reverend Dr Donald Caird formerly Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough who died on Thursday 1st June.
• Mr. Thomas Brabazon - Father of Councillor Tom Brabazon and who died on 31st May 2017.
All stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the deceased.
The Lord Mayor then referred to a proposal to set up a committee in relation to the payments to the former employees of Clery’s department store. It was agreed to refer the matter of nomination to this committee to the Central Area Committee. The Lord Mayor then requested and received City Council support for his proposal to write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to request that passport applications be accepted over the counter. Councillor C Andrews asked that congratulations be passed on to Sherriff Youth Club Soccer team who won the Nivea Cup recently.
The City Council then agreed to suspend Standing Orders to take Emergency Motions No 1, 2 & 4.without debate and to discuss the Waste to Energy Facility incident as a Topical Issue at this time. The debate on this issue lasted for an agreed half an hour. Members expressed their concern that such an incident occurred during the commissioning phase of this facility. They also sent good wishes to the employees involved. They requested a report on the incident from the Chief Executive on behalf of all 4 Dublin local authorities.
(A) “The City Council suspended Standing Orders to agree the following emergency motions without debate :-
This Council requests a full report from the Chief Executive and the Executive management of the Covanta Poolbeg Incinerator, on the incident that occurred on Wednesday 7th June.
The Council further requests a report on what action will be taken to ensure that there will be no repeat of the incident and that a full safety audit of the operation of the Plant takes place.
The Council further requests a report on why the Company issued no immediate information to the Public, Public representatives or indeed the Community Liaison Committee following the incident and confirmation on a new communications strategy by the Company to ensure that such information is issued speedily in the event of any such incident in the future.
Finally the City Council extends its good wishes to the workers involved in the incident”
Submitted in the name of Councillor D. Lacey
(B) “That all works cease at the Incinerator on Poolbeg Peninsula until such time as an investigation is carried out independent of DCC, Covanta and the Department of Environment”.
Submitted in the names of Councillors C. Andrews and D Doolan
(C) “That this Council notes with concern the incident of 7th June 2017 at the Dublin Waste to Energy Facility at Poolbeg in Dublin City; and furthermore:
Welcomes the investigation by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the prohibition notices issued against Covanta and Hitachi Zosen Inova;
Welcomes the separate investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
Notes that the processing of waste will not be allowed to resume until both the HSA and EPA are satisfied;
Shall seek from the operators the availability of real-time information online regarding the operations of the plant and its emissions;
Instructs the Chief Executive to keep the Council updated on any correspondence received, or expenditure incurred in regard to these investigations, as well as on the general operations and commissioning of the facility; and
Sends its best wishes to the eleven workers who were sent to St. Vincent’s Hospital as a result of the event."
Submitted in the name of Councillor C Cuffe