Daly questions commitment to preventing dumping at sea

NEW legislation to prevent dumping at sea will only be seen as a "litany of pious aspirations" unless substantial financial resources are put into its implementation, the Government has been warned.

In a strongly worded speech Mr Brendan Daly (FF) questioned the Government's commitment to providing the necessary money and personnel to police the Dumping at Sea Bill which went through its second stage in the Seanad.

The Bill extends the limit of Irish control of dumping from 12 to 200 miles and in some areas up to 350 miles off the Irish coast.

It applies strict limits on what can be dumped at sea and bans incineration at sea, the dumping of radioactive wastes and toxic substances.

Its provisions also include new enforcement powers and tougher penalties. When the Bill becomes law Ireland will "give effect" to an international convention for the protection of the marine environment (OSPAR Convention).

The Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett, who introduced the Bill, said that when Ireland ratified the Convention it would allow the possibility of arbitration between Ireland and Britain about the increased discharges from Sellafield since the start up of THORP.

He repeated the State's concern about the transportation of nuclear materials near Ireland because of THORP. Mr Barrett also stressed the commitment the British government had given to monitor and manage the Beaufort Dyke munitions dump site off the coast of Larne, Co Antrim.

Mr Tom Fitzgerald (FF) accused Britain of acting totally irresponsibly over Sellafield. Britain expressed great concern about Chernobyl but "there is another potential nuclear disaster sitting on their doorstep". They should shut Sellafield down fast before a nuclear accident "wipes out England and Ireland as well".

Mr Bill Cashin (Lab) pointed to commissions in the Bill. He said there was no mention of "ballast water" which was a major danger to shellfish. Ballast water, which vessels carry for balance, is supposed to be discharged before vessels enter coastal waters, but this was not being monitored and was not mentioned in the legislation.

Mr Daly said there was little mention of resources in the legislation. Since that was the case, "I am at a loss to know how this legislation will be enforced without a clear financial commitment for increased marine pollution surveillance and enforcement".

Mr Barrett told Mr Daly it was not possible to patrol every mile of the coast.

Nonetheless, he hoped there would be a build up of money.

He acknowledged that "we could do with more naval ships". The EU had given a commitment to fund more than 50 per cent of the cost for the purchase of vessels and he hoped there would be additions to the naval fleet in the next year or two.

Ms Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) urged the Minister to "go for it" and to "argue with the powers that be" to demand an outright ban on the dumping of offshore installations.