I am surprised and disappointed that the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources is not present to reply to this matter.
Adjournment Debate. - Phosphorous Devices.
The Chair has no responsibility in the matter.
I am concerned that a number of phosphorous canisters have been washed up on east coast beaches. They pose a danger to people who use the beaches. It appears from media reports that these canisters were among munitions dumped by the UK Government in the Irish Sea after the Second World War. I recall that similar canisters were washed up a couple of years ago, particularly on the County Antrim and Scottish coasts. They emerged when the gas interconnector was being laid just north of Beaufort Dyke. At that time the UK authorities indicated that dumping had taken place in the Irish Sea in areas outside of Beaufort Dyke and could have taken place as far south as the Isle of Man.
Will the Minister tell the House where exactly the material washed up has come from? What has disturbed it? Scientific opinion is that dumped munitions remain on the sea bed unless they are disturbed. The munitions from Beaufort Dyke were disturbed during the laying of the gas pipeline. There must have been some engineering or geological activity in the Irish Sea which has disturbed the canisters and caused them to come ashore. Will the Minister tell us what has disturbed them? Can he assure us the activity will be discontinued?
There are a number of matters which impact on the Irish Sea — the dumped munitions, the frequency with which they come ashore and the problem of radioactive waste — which originate from the UK. Will steps be taken in the light of the east-west arrangements under the British-Irish Agreement to form an intergovernmental body with responsibility for the management of the Irish Sea and the protection of its environment? We must avoid continuing problems of radioactivity in the Irish Sea. Citizens who wish to enjoy our beaches should not have to run the risk of encountering these phosphorous canisters and their attendant dangers.
The Irish Sea is getting a reputation as the most explosive and the most radioactive in the region. The latest incident bears this out. Ten phosphorus bombs were washed up along the east coast and that raises serious concerns regarding safety as we face the summer season. It is fortunate that as yet no children came in contact with these devices as the consequences would be serious. The phosphorus bombs are believed to have come from the Beaufort Dyke where millions of tonnes of munitions were dumped following World War II. There is concern that the recent laying of a pipeline and a telephone cable line may have disturbed the seabed in the Beaufort Dyke area and caused a dislodgement. The type of munitions and the quantities involved must be established. Does the UK Ministry of Defence have archival records indicating the quantities dumped after World War II? It is essential that we know the quantity of phosphorus bombs involved because they have appeared on our coastline for many years.
The task force on dumping radioactive material is due to report soon. While I appreciate the task force focused mainly on solid packaged radioactive waste dumped by the UK authorities in Beaufort Dyke in the north Irish Sea during the 1950s, dumping also took place at many other locations. Can the task force report be broadened to include all lethal materials? If public confidence is to be restored in our marine environment, the Minister should find out what arms were dumped.
I wish to share my time with my colleague, Deputy Ryan.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
As the report in today's Irish Independent indicates, the main areas affected by this find are the coastal areas of my constituency from Greenore to Skerries in Dublin. Since the points have been adequately made by my colleagues, I wish to ask the Minister some important questions. What is the origin of these bombs? Are the British responsible for them — I assume they are — and, if so, will they fund the cost incurred in surveillance along the east coast? Is the Minister prepared to secure information from the British authorities on where bombs were dumped, what quantities were dumped, when they were dumped and what else can we expect to be washed up on beaches in Bettystown, Laytown and Dundalk? Most importantly, has the Minister received a report from the Army disposal unit on whether these devices are still live? Are they likely to explode if, for example, children pick them up or interfere with them?
As we approach the tourist season, a prime time for coastal resorts from Dublin to the Border, what message will the Minister give to the public? Will he ask the British authorities whether they are responsible for dumping these devices, together with other matters, in the Irish Sea and whether they are prepared to pay the cost of surveillance and clearing of these devices?
As a Deputy for the coastal constituency of Dublin North, I am deeply concerned about the implications of this find along the east coast, particularly in Loughshinny in my constituency. In the past I asked Ministers to contact the United Kingdom health and safety Minister to identify the location of dumping of ammunition, but I still await that report. The residents of Loughshinny had to put up with much disturbance in terms of smells which emanated during construction of the gas line from Loughshinny to Scotland.
As we approach the summer season there are major concerns about this matter. The Minister should reassure the people who live in the coastal villages and towns involved of the action he is taking to ensure there is no effect on tourism or on the lives and safety of residents living along the coastline.
I apologise to the House for the absence of the Minister for the Marine, Deputy Woods, who had a prior engagement of an important nature involving negotiations on fisheries matters. He is very sorry he cannot be here to reply to this important matter. I thank the Deputies for raising it and providing the opportunity to reply.
The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources and I were greatly concerned to learn yesterday that a number of phosphorus devices had come ashore in the Greenore and Loughshinny areas. As soon as the Irish Marine Emergency Service — IMES — of the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources was made aware of the incident, the relevant IMES coastal units were called out and immediately started carrying out extensive searches between Dún Laoghaire and Carlingford Lough. Garda stations, harbour authorities, lifeboat stations and local authorities were also alerted, a radio warning was broadcast to shipping and this broadcast is continuing on an ongoing basis. A warning was issued to the public yesterday on national radio, TV and press. In addition to the above action, initial response was made by the Garda and Army bomb disposal unit who cordoned off the areas mentioned above and dealt with the devices on site. This operation was assisted by Civil Defence.
An inquiry was made through UK Coastguard as to the origin of these devices and to ascertain whether there was recent activity which could have caused disturbance of the seabed, particularly in the Beaufort Dyke area. Belfast Coastguard commenced searches of the north Carlingford Lough coastline and advised that one such device had come ashore in Belfast Lough. My colleague followed this up earlier today by contacting Dr. Jack Cunningham, MP, the UK Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to express his serious concern at the discovery of these devices on Ireland's east coast and has instructed senior officials of his Department to liaise closely with their UK counterparts on the issues arising.
A total of 12 phosphorus devices were found yesterday on the Irish east coast, nine in Greenore, one at Loughshinny and two in the area around Clogherhead. The IMES coastal unit at Greenore today found a further device at Ballagan Point south of Greenore and the IMES coastal unit at Clogherhead discovered another device one mile north of Clogherhead today. Extensive coastal searches are continuing involving IMES coastal units, Garda and Civil Defence. The devices in question are yellow in colour, rough in texture, four inches in diameter and between eight inches and 12 inches long. They ignite when exposed to the air and give off noxious gasses. These devices are considered highly dangerous and should not be approached by members of the public. Their location should be noted and the Garda or the Irish Marine Emergency Service notified using the 999/112 system.
The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources has asked me to assure the House that he will maintain contact with the UK authorities and with the Northern Ireland Office and the Scottish Office in the matter of investigating the cause of this incident and identifying remedies to prevent further incidents. Efforts will continue ashore to ensure any further items that are beached are dealt with appropriately. There are no markings on the devices that have been located so far to indicate their origin and it is complete surmise at this stage to suggest that they have come from any particular location.
I recognise that a high level of co-operation has been established on political, official and scientific fronts on Irish Sea environmental matters. A detailed survey of the Beaufort Dyke munitions dumpsite was carried out last year jointly by UK and Irish scientists. In the light of that survey it was agreed that both administrations would stay closely in touch in relation to the management of the dumpsite and, in particular, to ensure that activities in the area of the dumpsite would be restricted. It is a matter of concern that these devices came ashore in the numbers reported and at such distances from the actual dumpsite. The Deputies also raised a number of other matters. I will report directly to my colleague so that more detailed information can be conveyed to the Deputies concerned.