Search for east coast oil polluter `difficult'

THE Minister for the Marine has conceded it will be difficult to establish who was responsible for the oil spillage off the south Co Dublin coast which has resulted in the deaths of about 500 birds.

Mr Barrett said his Department was doing its utmost to identify those responsible and he rejected criticisms of the co-ordination of the clean up operation. He described the spillage as "disgraceful" and said people could no longer use the sea as a "tiphead". The Minister was speaking after opening a G7 research conference in Dublin on marine technology.

The oil slick was discovered in the Dublin Bay area at the weekend. It is believed a ship flushing out its bilges was responsible.

About 500 birds have died so far, and Birdwatch Ireland said a further 400 are being cared for. A team from England has arrived with equipment to help clean the birds, which include razorbills and guillemots.

Mr Barrett said it was very difficult to locate the polluter, because the Department and the local authorities were relying on information from other ships. However, oil samples were also being analysed to help identify the polluter.

Mr Eugene Archer of Birdwatch Ireland said they had reports of birds being washed up from Portmarnock in north Co Dublin to Wicklow town. Westerly winds were on the way and these would probably help to break up the remainder of the oil spillage, he said.