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Explosives plant planning hearing ‘a farce’

This article is from page 8 of the 2008-10-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG

OPPONENTS of plans to construct a €10 million explosives plant on the Shannon Estuary have served papers seeking a High Court injunction pre- venting An Bord Pleanala from tak- ing any further steps in determining the appeal on the plan.

Last Thursday in Ennis, the appeals board three-day oral hearing into the proposal concluded with counsel for Shannon Explosives Ltd, Esmonde

Keane SC stating that the board’s reason for refusing planning permis- sion to a previous plan by the com- pany has been fully dealt with in the new proposal.

However, Mr Keane’s closing state- ment took place in the absence of Opponents to the plan, An Taisce, Cairde Chill an Disirt Teo (CCDT) and three individual appellants who all withdrew from the hearing on Tuesday after the board refused to state as to whether the hearing was

being held under Irish law or a re- view under an EU Directive.

Acting solicitor for CCDT, Michael Nolan confirmed that the High Court case being brought by his clients has been adjourned from last Friday, Oc- tober 24 to November 21 to allow the other sides lodge responding affida- Wali

Mr Nolan said that An Bord Pleana- la gave an undertaking in court that if they were to make a decision on the appeal, they would give CCDT

notice if they wished to seek a court order preventing the board from de- termining the appeal.

Mr Nolan confirmed that CCDT are seeking an injunction preventing An Bord Pleanala from taking any steps in determining the appeal and an order requiring the reconvening of the oral hearing.

The application for judicial review is also demanding that the appeals board determine whether the appeal before is a review under EU legisla-

tion or an appeal under Irish law. Terance Corry of CDDT told

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