Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has refused a request by workers employed in Bord na Móna Recycling to meet with them and their union representatives to discuss media reports that its parent company is seeking to privatise the last remaining publicly owned refuse collection service.
SIPTU Transport, Aviation, Energy and Construction Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “SIPTU wrote on behalf of its members to Minister Ryan in late May requesting an urgent meeting in relation to media reports that Bord na Móna was seeking to sell off its subsidiarity recycling company. Such a move would have a very adverse effect on its workforce and long-term environmental policy in this State.
“We received a reply earlier this month from the Minister’s office stating that he was not available to meet us to discuss this most serious of issues. This is in stark contrast to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action which we recently attended to discuss national waste disposal policy and several other elected representatives who have met with us in recent weeks.”
He added: “In his letter of reply, the Minister stated that he had received no formal request to allow for the privatisation of Bord na Móna Recycling from the state company and that his Department’s agreement as a main shareholder would be necessary for such a move.
“In our response to him, we asked for confirmation that because there is no reference to the privatisation of Bord na Móna Recycling in the Programme for Government any such request received will be refused by his Department. We await his reply.
“SIPTU members in Bord na Móna Recycling and union representatives remain available to meet the Minister to discuss the situation at his convenience.”