"I have been raising the matter of the clean-up of Haulbowline in the Dáil for a number of years. I am very concerned now about information that is emerging about the presence of large amounts of highly carcinogenic substances, and the danger that this may pose to residents of Cobh and Cork Harbour.
"It is vitally important that the Minister come into the Dáil today and inform the public about the situation at Haulbowline and what the Government intends to do about it."
Meanwhile Cork South Central Senator Jerry Buttimer, has called for a debate in the Seanad in response to the news.
"Reports in today's media of a cover-up by the Government, the Environmental Protection Agency and Cork County Council of the treatment of around 500,000 tonnes of potentially deadly waste material from the Irish Steel site at Haulbowline, Co. Cork are beyond belief.
"Not only has the Government shown utter disregard for the environment by suggesting the capping of the lagoons where the waste material is held but to blatantly ignore the health implications of such a move for local resident is incomprehensible.
"I have called for a Seanad debate at the earliest convenience so that the extent of what is going on here can be determined. These lethal carcinogens must be removed from the area and disposed of with the utmost care and consideration. That the Greens in Government could have presided over this cover-up is reprehensible in the extreme. An explanation is needed immediately."
The Irish Examiner has broken a story that a cover-up involving Cork County Council, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Environment has been ongoing over highly hazardous waste buried at what has been described as potentially “the largest and most extensive pollution incident in the history of the State”.
The most worrying part is this
The documents also reveal the waste includes highly toxic substances such as chromium 6 — the second most dangerous carcinogen — as well as hydrocarbons and other oil and metal byproducts. The cost of the operation at Haulbowline to date also suggests a full clean-up of the site could cost up to €300 million.
An official investigation, the findings of which have been seen by the Irish Examiner, has already found that the waste material is “likely” to be a “severe” health risk to people locally, such as the residents of Cobh and navy personnel based nearby, mainly because of toxic dust getting carried by the wind.
It also represents a huge risk to flora and fauna.
What has the ministers response been?
Environment Minister John Gormley last night insisted he remained committed to transforming the site from an environmental liability into an asset for the region. “My officials are finalising a report on the site, which will outline options for its future, which I hope to bring to government in the autumn. Work has been ongoing for the last five years to properly assess the site, so that an informed decision on its future can be made.
“In relation to the recent issues regarding sub-contractors on the site, the department, acting on best expert advice of the EPA, ordered the unauthorised work to stop, as there were serious concerns that the work being carried out in such a piecemeal fashion posed a significant environmental risk,” he said.
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