I am very concerned about the recent appearances of dangerous devices on the east coast. I am disappointed, as I know the UK authorities are, that these devices apparently originated in the Beaufort Dyke dumpsite despite a management regime for the dumpsite which was agreed at ministerial level with the UK two years ago.
On 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 June a total of 28 phosphorus devices were washed up on the east coast comprising 22 devices at the following locations in County Louth: Greenore, Dunany Point, Termonfeckin, Ballaghan Point, Annagassan, Salterstown and Clogher Head; three devices at Gormanstown, County Meath, one device at Loughshinny, County Dublin, and two devices at Greystones and Brittas, County Wicklow.
I have been in contact from the outset with the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt. Hon. George Robertson, MP, and the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Dr. Jack Cunningham, MP, as well as with Lord Dubs at the Northern Ireland Office. In addition, officials of my Department have been in regular contact with their counterparts in the various UK Departments concerned. I have sought information urgently on the cause of the disturbance of the Beaufort Dyke dumpsite and if any known disturbance had ceased.
As a result of my inquiries a wide-ranging review by the Ministry for Defence in the UK has been carried out, involving other UK Departments and agencies. This has attempted to ascertain whether activity in the area of Beaufort Dyke could have resulted in a release of the devices which were washed up on the east coast. Preliminary indications are that the incidents early this month may not be attributable to identified activities in or near the dumpsite. I am, however, awaiting a definitive reply in this regard from the UK Secretary of State for Defence and to my request for an urgent meeting at senior official level.
It is known from the scientific survey of the dumpsite carried out by the Scottish Office more than three years ago that some material was short dumped, that is, outside the confines of the charted dumpsite, and lies in areas around the actual dumpsite. The UK hydrographic service is currently carrying out investigations to determine whether dumped material, combined with particular meteorological conditions, could have resulted in devices being washed up on the east coast. In the meantime I have asked the UK authorities to consider further strategies for managing the Beaufort Dyke, for example, extending the area of restriction around the dumpsite, if short dumped material is found to be the source of recent problems.