Opponents of a proposed incinerator near Cashel, Co Tipperary, were accused yesterday by the company behind the project of making "ill-informed" comments.
Bord Pleanála has received almost 50 appeals against planning permission for the incinerator, supported by 18,500 signatures.
The appellants include racehorse trainer Mr Aidan O'Brien, who has threatened to leave Ireland if the proposed development, a kilometre from his stables at Ballydoyle, is allowed to go ahead.
A spokesman for the company planning to build the incinerator, National By-Products, dismissed claims that it would be a threat to public health, and said campaigners had their facts wrong.
The company proposes to build the facility at its existing animal rendering plant in Rosegreen. It would be used to dispose of animal waste including specified risk materials removed from the food chain over the BSE scare.
The company spokesman said the project was a "green energy" one which would involve electricity being created from a "clean fuel", animal offal. Ash left behind by the process would be recycled by the construction industry.
Opponents of the project, claimed the company spokesman, who works with the Dublin-based public relations firm MRPA Consultants, were taking allegations about municipal and hazardous waste incinerators and applying them to the proposed facility.
"We are strongly of the opinion that if people look at the project on its merits they will see that it carries no threat," he said.
He stressed that no BSE-infected material would be incinerated there.
The appellants include residents' groups, Coolmore Stud and other stud farms in the area, An Taisce, the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Thoroughbreeders' Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, Mr Tom Hayes TD and the Taoiseach's special adviser, Dr Martin Mansergh. A group of 37 local GPs also objected.
Letters of support for Coolmore Stud's appeal were sent by Mr Denis Brosnan's Croom House Stud, the businessman Mr Tony Ryan, Moyglare Stud Farm, the racehorse owner Mr Michael Tabor and the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The appeals cite concerns including the potential impact on human health, as well as the economic consequences for the area, known as the Golden Vale.
Opposition to the project is being organised by the South Tipperary Anti-Incinerator Campaign (STAC), which recently commissioned an MRBI poll on the issue. Conducted between June 17th and 19th, the telephone poll of 500 indicated that 70 per cent of people in south Tipperary were opposed to the project.
The campaign is highly organised. STAC is running an appeals advice centre in Fethard today and tomorrow to inform people about how to submit observer status letters to Bord Pleanála calling for an oral hearing.
Both sides are employing Dublin-based public relations firms.
Permission for the development was granted by South Tipperary County Council in May. If approved, it will also require an operating licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.
