De Burca calls on Wicklow TDs to back full investigation of county's illegal dumping!

"While the Green Party fully appreciates the role of the Gardai in the investigation that is currently being carried out, their investigation is focusing on crimes that may have been committed" says councillor de Burca. "However, there has also clearly been a failure of political and administrative systems. Given the threat which illegal dumping has posed to public health, and the long-term environmental damage that it has caused, surely every effort should be taken to make sure that this political failure does not happen again in the area of waste management, or in any other area" she says.

Councillor de Burca is extremely concerned that public confidence in local government has been badly damaged and argues that the county's five TDs have a responsibility to take the steps necessary to rectify this situation. She believes that only a properly resourced, independent inquiry into waste management practices in the county will restore public confidence in the administration of local government.

"I believe that the former county manager, Blaise Tracey, and the former assistant county manager, Hubert Fitzpatrick, must be interviewed as part of this investigation" she says. "Both individuals held key offices in the council up until recently and therefore would be in a position to clarify a number of important issues in relation to the council's waste management activities" she says. "This is not a witch hunt, but people in positions of responsibility must be held accountable. I'm sure that both individuals would be willing to play their part in ensuring that the failures in the administrative and political systems that led to so much damage being done to the Garden County, are identified and corrected. These failures are likely to lead to hundreds of millions of euro being paid by tax payers in fines and for general clean up".

Councillor de Burca points out that as all but one of the sitting TDs are members of the county council, they are certainly aware of the need for such a comprehensive and independent investigation. "Like the recent scandal in AIB" says councillor de Burca, "there has been a system failure in County Wicklow, and it must be investigated, understood and addressed to make sure that it does not happen again".

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.