Govt created serious health risk through inadequate investigation of Haulbowline toxic dump

Speaking after a Dáil debate on the Department of the Environment's decision not to clean up toxic waste in Cork Harbour, Cork Fine Gael TD Deirdre Clune, accused the Government of putting local residents' health at risk by mishandling initial investigations into the onsite dangers.

"The Government took over this site in 2003 but failed to carry out a comprehensive survey of the area, failed to understand the level of contamination on site and failed to understand the potential hazards to public health that continues to exist.

"The survey carried out in 2004 was apparently a surface survey which failed to expose the subsurface lagoons of toxic waste that existed. It was in no way the comprehensive survey that was necessary.

"Junior Environment Minister Máire Hoctor could not inform provide the Dáil with details of the level of contamination on the site, whether any of the contaminants had leached into Cork Harbour or what was the level of public health risk.

"Environment Minister John Gormley needs to come before the Dáil at the first opportunity and answer these questions. If the Minister admits that his Department did instruct the company carrying out the clean-up to limit its investigation, thereby risking the health of thousands of local residents, and to cap hazardous and potentially lethal waste, then there must be an immediate internal investigation to determine at what level in the Minister's Department this decision was taken."

Deridre Clune used to be a Civil Engineer sop she knows what she is talking about, unlike some in Government...