Environmental campaigner Erin Brockovich has been taken ill while in Ireland.
Ms Brockovich, who recently met Minister for the Environment John Gormley to discuss the toxic waste problem at Haulbowline, Co Cork, was due to give a keynote speech at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) this afternoon.
A member of Ms Brockovich's staff contacted the IIEA yesterday evening to explain that she has taken very ill and would be unable to give the address.
Erin Brockovich is an American legal clerk who, despite the lack of a formal law school education, was instrumental in constructing a case against the $28 billion California-based Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 1993.
The case alleged contamination of drinking water with hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium six, in the southern California town of Hinkley.
Her story is the topic of a feature film,
Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts in the title role.
Today it was revealed that Ms Brockovich met with the Minister for the Enivronment John Gormley recently over the toxic waste problem at Haulbowline.
Ms Brockovich said the pair had a "long discussion" on what could be done to clean up the site.