August 08 Press
26 August 2008
State agencies must take part in balanced debate on GM, warns Boyle
Green Party Chairman Senator Dan Boyle has said State agencies must take part in a balanced debate on the issue of genetically modified foods.
Speaking following the involvement of State Agencies in the ABIC 2008 conference on Biotechnology, which has an emphasis on GM, and is currently being held in University College Cork, Senator Boyle said: "While debate is always welcome and should be encouraged, the involvement of State agencies, particularly those with responsibility for food, in an event that is unbalanced is wrong. The Programme for Government states quite emphatically that an all-island GM free zone is to be negotiated. This should inform the thinking of State agencies.
"Having no input on the lack of consumer confidence, the risks of environmental cross contamination, and the dangers of market manipulation by GM companies at a conference of this nature is to leave aside an important part of this debate and is far from being intellectually honest. The State agencies concerned, especially Teagasc, should ensure that resources committed to conferences such as these correspond with the objectives in the Programme in Government."
22 August 2008
Boyle urges large turn out for Cork City game
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle has urged as many people as possible to attend this evening's Cork City game against Bray Wanderers at Turners Cross.
"At this time of difficulty, Cork City supporters need help to the club over this hurdle. Cork City FC has been an extremely successful club in sporting terms, it should be given every encouragement to achieve future success,"
6 August 2008
Boyle welcomes oral hearing on co-location hospital proposal
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle has welcomed the decision of An Bord Pleanála to hold an oral hearing into the proposal to build a co-location hospital on the grounds of Cork University Hospital.
Senator Boyle, who submitted an objection to Cork City Council and An Bord Pleanála against the proposal on planning grounds, said that the issue needs to be examined in sufficient detail before a final decision is made.
"There is no reason why a co-location hospital has to be on the same campus as an existing public hospital. This can be seen in Limerick where the co-location hospital is five minutes away from Limerick Regional Hospital.
"Cork University Hospital is already over developed with considerable existing difficulties in terms of parking and traffic in the Wilton area. There needs to be an alternative proposal for a co-location hospital if it is to go ahead."
1 August 2008
Pursuing costs on incinerator case is 'legal bullying' - Boyle
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle has described the State's intention to pursue costs against individuals who objected to the Ringaskiddy incinerator in Cork as 'legal bullying'. Yesterday the Supreme Court rejected a bid by local residents to further adjourn two legal challenges to the hazardous waste incinerator. Residents have now learned that the State is seeking the legal costs of the case.
Commenting on the news, Senator Boyle said: "These individuals have been following an important legal principle that national cases, such as this incinerator case, can be adjourned pending a decision at the European Court of Justice. The Supreme Court has decided that the cases can be heard in parallel and those who have taken this action have accepted this verdict. To further seek a pound of flesh by asking for costs from ordinary citizens, known to be without assets and whose actions are motivated only by having the law in this area clarified, amounts to legal bullying.
"I'm presuming that this is a decision that has been made by the State's legal officer, in the form the Attorney General. However as this is an environmental action it is also being taken against the Minister and the Department of the Environment and I will be calling on the Minister to seek not to have these costs pursued. As the costs are to be assessed in October there is time and scope not to proceed on this basis. We need to learn from the lesson of the mistakes that have been made in the past. The Green Party in Government cannot be associated with the use of the legal system as a form of intimidation against those whose only motivation is the maintenance of the highest possible standards of environmental protection.
"That the Indaver Company also is seeking costs is no surprise to me and is consistent with the way that the company has dealt with the people of Cork Harbour since they first announced their proposals for their unwanted and unneeded incinerators."
