asked the Minister for Transport the precautions being taken against oil pollution at Cork harbour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Harbour Pollution Precautions.
31.
All petroleum vessels operating in Cork Harbour have to comply with petroleum bye-laws made by the Cork Harbour Commissioners which prescribe, inter alia, procedures to be observed on arrival and during loading/unloading operations to minimise the risk of accidents and oil spillages as well as procedures in the event of a leakage or spillage of oil.
In addition, the Irish Refining Co. Ltd. requires masters of all tankers berthing at the Whitegate Refinery jetty to observe special anti-pollution and safety regulations. All operations at the jetty are supervised by a terminal supervisor. The Cork Harbour Commissioners, the local authorities and the Irish Refining Co. Ltd. have prepared contingency plans for the clearance of oil pollution. These plans cover such aspects as manpower, machinery, vehicles, boats and equipment, dispersants, oil recovery units, booms, etc.
Whose responsibility is it to clean up a spillage of oil in Cork Harbour?
Cork Harbour Commissioners now have an emergency plan to deal with the whole water area. As the Deputy is aware there are various Departments with various responsibilities in regard to this whole question.
In the event of a spillage of oil in Cork Harbour whose responsibility is it to clean it up?
Under the new plan, the whole of that water area is under the jurisdiction of the Cork Harbour Commissioners and they would be responsible.
If there is oil spilled from a ship unloading at the oil refinery jetty it is the responsibility of Cork Harbour Commissioners to clean it up?
I did not say that. I said that Cork Harbour Commissioners have drawn up an emergency plan to deal with all matters in their area. As the Deputy is aware there are various Departments and agencies in the country with various responsibilities. I can list them for the Deputy if he wishes.
I want to know who is responsible if there is a spillage of oil?
The Department of the Environment has general responsibility for arrangements for clearance of oil pollution subject to specific responsibilities of other Departments and bodies.
If there is a spillage of oil at the jetty at the Cork Oil Refinery whose responsibility is it to see that that is cleared up?
Perhaps if I give the Deputy some further details——
Perhaps the Minister would just answer the question I asked.
Maritime local authorities who operate under the aegis of the Department of the Environment are responsible for the clearance of oil from beaches and the immediate foreshore. Harbour authorities deal with oil spillages in harbours. The Department of Defence is responsible for clearance of oil at sea and the Department of Transport is responsible for the control and discharge of oil from vessels. I presume that the new plans drafted by the Cork Harbour Commissioners will do the job efficiently.
Does that mean that if there is a spillage of oil while a ship is unloading at the oil refinery at Cork, the Cork Harbour Commissioners are responsible for cleaning that up?
I understand that adequate arrangements are available in the Cork Harbour area to deal with any spillage that might occur.
Would the Minister just tell me: is it the Harbour Commissioners, the county councils——
I gave the Deputy an outline of the various responsibilities.
——and the oil refineries that are responsible? Are they the only three bodies involved? They have all sorts of other responsibilities. Would the Minister mind telling me who will clean up an oil spillage——
This is becoming a discussion.
——when there are only three people involved. Would the Minister take a chance and name them?
There is no question of taking a chance, I gave the Deputy an outline of the various responsibilities of the various Departments and all matters in relation to spillages will be dealt with.
I will have to move on to the next question. A supplementary from Deputy Deasy.
Am I not entitled to find out who is responsible for cleanning up an oil spillage?
I am not responsible for the Minister's replies and we cannot keep repeating the same question.
Would the Minister find out and let me know in writing?
I have given the Deputy the answer. I have given him a detailed outline of all the responsibilities involved.
May I ask the Minister to speak to his man in the gallery who is taking a note of all this to ask him if he would write to me in the Minister's name in this regard?
The Deputy can be quite assured that any such matter concerned with Cork Harbour will be satisfactorily dealt with.
Despite the precautions the Minister has read out, have there not been a large number of spillages in the Cork Harbour area in recent years?
I cannot say offhand that there have been. Is the Deputy aware of them himself?
Has the Minister any details of such spillages?
I have not the details of every single spillage that has taken place. But I understand from the list of equipment outlined here in the possession of the Cork Harbour Commissioners that they can deal effectively with any spillage that might occur in their water area.
Question No. 32.