ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley is to ask his cabinet colleagues to fund a multi-million-euro clean-up of Ireland’s worst toxic waste dump.
Green party senator Dan Boyle has confirmed Mr Gormley wants to decontaminate the site in Cork’s lower harbour.
However, he warned that such an operation could take up to 10 years to complete.
“It is the most contaminated site in Ireland and it has to be dealt with. Obviously the Government finances aren’t in the most healthy state at present, but public safety takes precedence,” said Mr Boyle.
Some estimates have put the clean-up bill for the Haulbowline site as high as €300 million.
A total of 100,000 tonnes of waste has already been removed, but a further 500,000 tonnes remain.
Party leaders on Cork County Council and members of Cobh Town Council are due to meet Mr Gormley on Friday. It is expected the minister will brief them on the contents of a preliminary report compiled by consultants.
A final report is expected to be completed before the end of the month.
In an unprecedented move, Cork County Council has passed a motion of “no confidence” in the Environment Minister over his handling of the issue.
Mr Boyle described the vote as “a bit rich”.
The discovery of the waste emerged last June and local politicians are incensed it has taken until now for the minister to brief them.
“From early on the minister agreed to a meeting with local public representatives when he was next down in Cork, which is this Friday. He arranged for a special briefing for councillors, which has taken place in Dublin with department officials. He has also met local people,” said Mr Boyle.
“I think it’s a bit rich that they pass a vote of no confidence just days before they are due to meet him.”
Cllr John Mulvihill, who proposed the no confidence motion, said the fact it was passed with a clear majority showed how angry local politicians were with Mr Gormley.
“We did meet with consultants in Dublin at the end of July. The minister was in Dublin the same day and he didn’t have the courtesy to meet us,” said Mr Mulvihill.
He said he would be demanding on Friday that Mr Gormley give a written commitment to totally clean up the Haulbowline site.
Irish Examiner
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