I thank Deputy Hayes for allowing me to say a few words on this issue as a Dundalk man. Initially Sellafield was not a priority for me nor for the masses that live in County Louth. Fianna Fáil held a public meeting early in May and including the Deputies and Fianna Fáil personnel, less than 36 people attended. Nevertheless, I plead guilty to complacency about the brooding menace presenting itself to the people of County Louth. I acknowledge Senator O'Dowd's awareness of this menace. He had convened two conferences on the matter in Drogheda.
My awareness of the menace has been heightened by the recent publication of unacceptable statistics by the North Eastern Health Board. These show that the rate of cancer deaths is 15 per cent higher in County Louth. This is unacceptable and I hope this Government will make continuous funding available for the North Eastern Health Board to conduct much needed research into this unhappy statistic.
Deaths from cancer are consistently higher in County Louth and its neighbouring County Down. There has to be a rational reason for this and it is the duty of this Government, through the North Eastern Health Board, to fund a continuous research programme to elicit the facts and to take whatever measures are necessary to eradicate the scourge of cancer. The man on the street has had the uneasy feeling that Sellafield has contributed to this. In 1957 there was the unexplained phenomenon of a discharge from Sellafield which hit St. Louis's Convent in Dundalk. Some years later this resulted in an unusually high proportion of handicapped children born to girls who did their leaving certificate in that year. This too has heightened my awareness of the problem.
Sadly, Sellafield has been used over the years by those in Opposition as a stick with which to beat the Government, none more so than the present Government who raised the matter in the Dáil every six months in the past five years. I would like a consensus with every party uniting to tackle this problem. The four people who have taken the burden of fighting this case upon themselves are courageous. However, the money provided for them, initially by my Government is petty cash. A sum of £200,000 cannot fund the necessary legal expertise to fight this case. This case should be fought by the State. Four ordinary citizens are unlikely to win this case but a State, particularly given our recent eminence in Europe, would have some chance.
Fianna Fáil has been hypocritical in including this matter in its manifesto. It gave a solemn commitment to the people of County Louth that it would fund this court case on an ongoing basis. Now, four months into its term it has done an about-turn. Like Deputy Gilmore I am sorry the Minister who is from the area concerned, has chosen to turn his back on this assembly. During the suspension I told him what I would say here. The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern is an accomplished young man and he has a definite future in politics. However, tonight I have to dub him the "Minister for Bluster" because he came into the House determined to pull down the scrum. He frustrated Deputy Stagg who did significant work in his Ministry, attended conferences all over Europe and opposed Sellafield at every opportunity.
Deputy Ahern, and to a lesser extent, Deputy Kirk, must take responsibility for what the people of County Louth were told in that unholy manifesto. As a political cynic, who is sometimes cynical of my own party, I believe that when in Government, a party should be morally and legally obliged to implement promises included in an election manifesto. Fianna Fáil has done a U-turn on this issue and it would not have moved but for the threat by Deputy Fox.
The Government is in a difficult position and political expediency has won the day. This is a shameful example of stroke politics. At a time when the country is condemning this assembly, we need some honesty. We need a united, all-party approach to Sellafield. The State, on behalf of the people should give continuous backing to the four people who had the courage to take this court case on board.
I name the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, not only as the Minister for bluster but as the architect of that inducement in the Fianna Fáil manifesto. He got a magnificent tally of 10,000 votes in County Louth. I was proud of him because there has not been a Minister from Dundalk since the early days of the State. I would like to think he will advance greatly in the world of politics but this has not been his finest hour. He spoke from the side of his mouth when he assured the residents that when in Government, the soldiers of destiny would deliver.
The Minister and the Fianna Fáil party stand here tonight with their trousers around their ankles. They should pull them up as quickly as they can, cover their dignity, honour their commitment and take care of the interests of the people of County Louth and this State. The interest, health and welfare of the people of County Louth should be paramount to the Minister. Political advancement will come naturally, but not by giving bum promises to the people of County Louth.