Vol. 406 No. 8
1 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for the Marine if he will establish an Irish Sea secretariat to combat pollution in the Irish Sea, which would be a communication centre and would document and report annually on changes in the sea environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Marine if he has given consideration to the conclusions of the Conference on the Irish Sea held at the Isle of Man from 22 to 24 October 1990; the action he proposes to take arising from those conclusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Limerick West): I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 21 together.
I was represented by a number of my officials at the Irish Sea Conference, which was held in the Isle of Man from 22 to 24 October 1990. I have given detailed consideration to the conclusions arising from the conference.
In relation to monitoring and research in the Irish Sea, existing co-operative arrangements between Ireland and the UK have been taken a stage further by the establishment of an Irish Sea Co-ordination Group. The group will have the assistance of a scientific co-ordinator and its reporting procedure will be decided in conjunction with the UK and Irish authorities. The aims of the group will be to promote the review of existing and proposed scientific programmes which will include accidental and operational discharges from ships.
Ireland and the UK have also agreed to work together to establish formal arrangements for co-operation and co-ordination in dealing with pollution incidents in the Irish Sea.
Arrangements in respect of both of the above matters are in train.
I thank the Minister for the information he has given the House in regard to some steps being taken to set up such a secretariat. In view of the fact that pollution of the Irish Sea is of such danger at present surely the proposed secretariat should deal with more than discharge from ships and pollution incidents and that probably the day-to-day pollution of the Irish Sea is the most urgent matter requiring attention? Is the Minister aware that, at an Irish Sea symposium held recently by the north of England Zoological Society speakers pointed out that the Irish Sea was contaminated by human wastes, notably refuse, petroleum oils, dredged material, human bacteria and viruses, heavy metals——
I want to assist Deputy Barnes to elicit information but I must dissuade her from quoting as she is now doing.
I am merely endeavouring to get across to the Minister the enormity of the problem. What this House requires is an Irish Sea secretariat with the resources, strength and clout to tackle this problem at national and international levels, particularly to take on the problem of radioactive waste emanating from the Sellafield plant.
The Deputy has made her point rather effectively.
Could their terms of reference be extended to cover those matters?
(Limerick West): What the Deputy has said will be considered. I might remind her that the Irish and United Kingdom Governments have agreed to work together to establish formal arrangements for co-operation and co-ordination when dealing with pollution incidents in the Irish Sea; those arrangements are in train. Their purpose is to improve overall management of the Irish Sea, integrating the research efforts on the part of the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. General trends are very encouraging and various reports prepared are readily available. I am happy that progress is being made and that we should have a secretariat in place very soon to continuously monitor pollution in the Irish Sea.
Will resources be made available to local authorities in order to enable them implement the recommendations of that secretariat? Would the Minister agree with me that ultimately sewage treatment and increased sewage effluent into the Irish Sea are the responsibility of local authorities? Will the Minister say whether not merely the secretariat but the Government will make resources available at all levels to ensure that not alone will research be undertaken but that any remedial measures will be implemented?
(Limerick West): The matter of finance available to local authorities is one for another Minister but every effort will be made to ensure the efficient functioning of the proposed secretariat.
