asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will make a statement on the developments, if any, which have taken place recently between his Department and the Gulf Oil Company to ensure that the risk of a further oil spillage in Bantry Bay is reduced to a minimum; and if he will arrange with this company to make the Dutch Hydrovac system of cleaning the spillage continuously available at Bantry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bantry Bay Oil Spillage.
29.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 34 on 6th February, 1975, in which I gave details of improved operating procedures and safeguards to be adopted by Gulf Oil so as to reduce the risk of oil pollution to a minimum.
(Interruptions.)
We could not hear the beginning of the Minister's reply.
Perhaps the Minister would recommence his reply.
It is no fault of mine that the Deputy could not hear my reply.
The Minister mutters a lot.
I was speaking quite loudly but was shouted down by the Opposition.
Question No. 29.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 34 on 6th February, 1975, in which I gave details of improved operating procedures and safeguards to be adopted by Gulf Oil so as to reduce the risk of oil pollution to a minimum. Since then discussions between my Department, our technical advisers and Gulf Oil on these and other matters have been continuing. The company have appointed two marine co-ordinators to supervise jetty control arrangements and further applicants are being recruited.
As indicated in my previous reply, Gulf Oil undertook to provide satisfactory fendering on the tug-boats in Bantry Bay. Three of the tugs have since been fitted with new temporary fendering and similar refitting of the remaining fourth tug is in train. It is hoped that tests on the temporary fendering of all tugs will be completed shortly. Meanwhile urgent studies on a design for permanent new fendering are being carried out by the company.
The assessment of suitability for use at Bantry of any particular one of the very many methods of clearance of spills of oil available on the market is a matter, in the first instance, for the company and I am aware from my contacts with them that they are actively investigating a number of competing systems. There is no information available in my Department about the Dutch Hydrovac system referred to.
Is the Minister aware that the Hydrovac system referred to in the question forms part of the boom system and that its purpose is to suck up oil from the sea and have this oil utilised again?
I am not aware of the system.
Deputy Barrett is imparting information rather than seeking it.
Is the Minister not aware that this system was used very successfully recently in Rotterdam? Perhaps the Minister might like me to send him details of the system.
I am informed that there is no information available in the Department about this system.
Surely it is the duty of the Minister, and his Department, to get information about this system which is in operation in Rotterdam. It is part of the boom system for containing oil spillages.
The Deputy is making a statement and that is not in order.
It is important to note that the Minister has informed us that the Department of Transport and Power have no information about this system.
All the technical data from the other side of the House sounds like a leakage from a think-tank.
Are the Department or the Minister not concerned about oil spillages? If they are concerned, surely it is their duty to ensure that the best systems are employed by Gulf Oil. It is not enough for the Minister to tell us that he has no information about the system I mentioned.
The Government are seriously concerned about oil spillage but are doubtful about the merits of ballyhoo as a means of dealing with it.
Have the Government undertaken any survey of the marine life in Bantry Bay since the major spillage?
I think that is a separate question.