Vol. 464 No. 4
6 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for the Marine the investigations, if any, his Department has carried out regarding the recent finding of oil along Ireland's beaches; if it has been confirmed that this oil came from the Sea Empress disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8250/96]
41 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the facilities, if any, that were available to the relevant local authorities to prepare for and monitor the disaster involving the Sea Empress off the Welsh coast; and his views on the implications for the remit of his Department arising from the oil slicks on the Wexford coast. [6619/96]
45 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, he has to provide assistance to Wexford County Council to deal with the aftermath of the oil spoilage on the Wexford coast. [6618/96]
49 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Marine in relation to the recent problems arising from oil pollution along the Wexford coast, the investigation, if any, that is taking place into the source of this oil; the outcome of any such investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6640/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 41, 45 and 49 together.
Maritime local authorities have accepted responsibility for protecting their respective coastlines against pollution from maritime incidents and for clean-up operations in the event of pollution taking place. The Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) of the Department of the Marine and its associated bodies, the Irish Marine Advisory Group and the Marine Pollution Response Team, assist local authorities in meeting their responsibilities in this regard. Each maritime local authority has a contingency plan to deal with emergencies at county level. In addition, IMES directs and co-ordinates resources in the event of a major oil spill or other pollution incident under its contingency plan.
During the recent incident involving the oil tanker Sea Empress at Milford Haven in Wales and the oil pollution incident on the Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and Cork coastlines, IMES provided monitoring including helicopter support and were on hand to offer technical advice as requested. IMES also advised the local authorities on the formulation of their compensation claims. Sea fisheries officers of the Department assisted with the monitoring of any effects on fisheries.
As Deputies are aware, the four local authorities concerned commenced clean-up operations of their respective coastlines immediately following the pollution incident and commissioned the Marine Institute to investigate whether the spillage at Milford Haven was the source of the pollutant. I wish to compliment the local authorities concerned. As already announced on Thursday last, 18 April, the results of the investigations show that crude oil from the Sea Empress is the pollutant in this case.
It is Government policy to pursue the "polluter pays" principle whereby polluters are held liable for any damage caused and for costs of clean-up operations. In line with this policy and on the basis of the results of the investigation, the four local authorities concerned are currently estimating their respective claims for clean-up costs and damages for submission to the insurers of the Sea Empress. I understand that Wexford County Council is co-ordinating a joint claim and that preliminary estimates indicate the final joint claim is expected to be in the region of £150,000.
Our procedures for supporting local authorities in this important matter will be kept under review. Serious issues on the management of such catastrophic incidents as that involving the Sea Empress, in particular in relation to the emergency services response as the incident unfolded, will no doubt arise in the official review of the incident in the UK and by the EU Commission. In view of the proximity of Milford Haven to our south-east coast we will examine closely the findings of these reports with a view to helping to ensure that threats to our coastline are minimised. The availability and capability of towing facilities in Ireland to respond to a similar incident in our waters will be reviewed in this context. I intend to review, as necessary, with the UK authorities at the highest level the lessons to be learned, in the light of the relevant report, from the Sea Empress incident.
(Wexford): The Minister of State seems to be saying that much support was given by different agencies, particularly his Department, to local authorities. However, there is a feeling on the ground that little or no support was given to Wexford County Council or to other councils. Following the Sea Empress oil disaster at Milford Haven, was the Minister or the Department concerned at any stage about the possibility of oil reaching Irish beaches? If so, what steps were taken from day one to monitor the dispersal of the oil spill? If such monitoring took place, why was the oil which eventually came on shore not detected at sea? Are there facilities for monitoring this?
The various agencies gave continuous support to the local authorities concerned and I am surprised that Deputy Browne should claim otherwise. Immediately the incident occurred at Milford Haven my Department liaised with the Meteorological Service at six hourly intervals to monitor wind and wave movements and detect where the oil was moving. There was an officer in Milford Haven during the course of the incident to ensure that it was monitored on site. Close contact was maintained with the UK authorities and EU observers who were in touch with the situation.
The oil which turned up on our coastline was in the form of globules. Therefore, it was not transported on the water surface and not detected. When it turned up on the coastline, it was examined by the Marine Institute. To establish without any doubt the source of the pollution, the institute also examined the pollution on the Milford Haven side. It found that the samples matched and that the pollution on our coastline came from the Sea Empress. It has, therefore, established a sound basis on which the local authorities concerned can pursue their claim for the recovery of the cost of the clean up operation.
(Wexford): What support will the Department give local authorities to back up their claim for compensation from insurers and owners of the Sea Empress to cover the cost of the clean up? Oil was washed on to the beaches of Wexford yesterday and today. This seems to be an ongoing problem which will result in major costs for local authorities throughout the country.
I already replied to that. I stated that the technical services available to the Department, sea fishery officers, the Marine Institute and the Irish Marine Emergency Service have all worked with the local authorities concerned and are supporting and assisting them in making claims for recovery of the cost of the clean up. This is in line with Government policy that we recover the full cost of a clean-up operation in a case like this.
