asked the Minister for Labour if his Department have requested CIE to make by-laws in respect of the transportation of dangerous chemicals by rail; if so, the outcome; and if all regulations in regard to the transportation of dangerous chemicals by road and rail are being fully implemented.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Dangerous Chemicals Transportation .
26.
: CIE have made internal regulations covering the transportation of dangerous chemicals by rail and they conform to the United Nations Agreement covering the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail — known as the RID Agreement. I am advised that these regulations are being implemented.
However I have requested CIE to make by-laws in respect of the transportation of dangerous substances by rail and the matter is receiving the urgent attention of CIE.
On 22 July last I made an order entitled Dangerous Substances Act, 1972 (Part IV Declaration) Order, 1980, declaring 25 substances to be dangerous for the purposes of the Act. On the same date I made regulations entitled Dangerous Substances (Conveyance of Scheduled Substances by Road) (Trade or Business) Regulations, 1980. The order and regulations came into operation on the 15 September last. In the short time since then CIE are fully implementing the conveyance by road regulations apart from those which require the modification of vehicles and trailers. This work is, I am advised, being carried out as quickly as possible and is expected to be completed shortly.
: When will the by-laws the Minister wants to see drawn up be implemented? He said he was advised that the present regulations are being enforced. Who is advising him that this is so? How many personnel from his Department are involved in the monitoring of any such regulations at present in operation?
: The industrial inspectorate of my Department are the monitoring agents and are in consultation with CIE to ensure that the regulations are being carried out.
: How many such personnel are there?
: I do not have the number of industrial inspectors at hand but I can give that information to the Deputy later. The number is quite extensive.
: Is it adequate?
: I think so, yes.
: Could the Minister say if the order stipulates that dangerous substances carried by road are clearly marked as such so that an ordinary road user will recognise a vehicle carrying dangerous substances, particularly if he is jammed behind such a vehicle on the Dublin-Belfast Road?
: The order was made on 15 September. The substances must be clearly marked and I hope industry will co-operate. If they do not, the Deputy can rest assured that the inspectorate will pursue this matter diligently until the regulations are complied with.
: Will the Minister take my word that very few of those vehicles are marked at all? Would he make an effort to ensure that they are clearly marked because it is not good enough that they should travel in convoys where they can do a great deal of damage if anything goes wrong?
: I want to assure the Deputy that I am concerned about this——
: If the Minister was concerned he would know how many inspectors were involved.
: The regulations came into force about six weeks ago and I have since noticed a vast improvement in the situation. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to insist that these regulations are implemented.
: What is the speed limit under the regulations? Are there stiff penalties for people who breach them? On the day of the garda's funeral we found it impossible to pass a lorry marked "Dangerous Substances" which was travelling at over 60 miles an hour.
: That is a separate question, but if the Deputy puts it down I will supply him with the information.
: The Minister said he made road regulations. What is the speed limit?
: That has no bearing on the question.
: The Minister said he made road regulations. If so, what is the speed limit?
: I have given the information asked for in the question. If the Deputy puts down another question I will give him all the information he requires.
: The Minister said in his reply that he made road regulations. Surely he knows the speed limits?
: The question on the Order Paper is specific. If the Deputy puts down a question I will give him the full information he requires or, if he wishes, I will give him a copy of the regulations.
: Obviously the Minister does not know the speed limit. That is very important. The Minister told us he made regulations and obviously he does not know the speed limit.
[Interruptions.)
: Question No. 27.
27.
asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) that a CIE train carrying 270 tons of liquid ammonia from Cork to the Nítrigin Éireann plant in Arklow, County Wicklow, was stopped and attacked by persons unknown in Dublin during August; and if any contingency plans have been devised under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972, to deal with such occurrences.
: My attention has been drawn to the report referred to by the Deputy. Ammonia is a scheduled dangerous substance under the Dangerous Substances Acts and I have recently made comprehensive regulations controlling its conveyance by road. In so far as the conveyance by rail is concerned, CIE have made their own internal arrangements. These are in accordance with the procedures set out in the RID Agreement — the United Nations agreement covering the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail.
The arrangements which CIE have made for the transportation of dangerous substances by rail incorporate emergency plans to deal with accidents. Comprehensive schemes have been drawn up, following inter-departmental consultation, for the co-ordination of emergency services should such accidents occur. A separate scheme exists in relation to the transportation of liquid ammonia from Cork to Arklow.
Additionally, section 62(3) of the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972, gives me, as Minister for Labour, power to request CIE to make by-laws governing the conveyance, loading and unloading of scheduled dangerous substances. I have written to CIE requesting the submission of such by-laws and as soon as I receive their proposals I shall give the matter immediate attention.
In the case of the particular incident referred to in the question, I understand from CIE that the vandalism to the train consisted of the draining off of the water from the barrier wagon. The matter was reported immediately to the Garda.