Mr Hogan alleged that a number of decisions made by Mr Gormley as Minister were designed to deliberately frustrate the process. They included the waste-facility levies capturing large-scale incinerators, a review of waste-management policy and his decision to appoint a senior counsel to brief him on the contracts between local authorities in Dublin and Covanta.

For his part, Mr Gormley had always maintained those decisions were well-grounded and in the best interests of the public.

He also said he believed Mr Hogan’s complaint seemed to have been written on his behalf by Covanta, a claim Mr Hogan angrily denied.