asked the Minister for the Environment if the existing arrangements for dealing with major environmental disasters, in particular oil slicks, are adequate; and if it is the Government's policy to seek compensation for damage done in these circumstances.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Pollution.
2.
I am satisfied that my Department's contingency arrangements for dealing with serious oil pollution have operated satisfactorily since they were brought into operation to deal with the twin threats posed by the Kowloon Bridge and Capo Emma incidents which have provided the first practical test of the arrangements approved by the Government in 1984 to improve our response capability. The approved arrangements included the establishment of an operations group, drawn from Departments concerned and local and harbour authorities, to respond to major oil pollution incidents threatening or affecting shores. The contingency arrangements will be reviewed taking account of the experience gained from these incidents, and changes will be made, if appropriate.
The general position regarding compensation for damage arising from marine oil pollution incidents was indicated to the House by the Minister for Communications when dealing with a Private Notice Question on 25 November. Costs incurred by my Department in dealing with oil pollution, including preventive and clearance measures, will be claimed from the owners of the ships concerned and their insurers.
Would the Minister agree that recently the Irish nation was reduced to the position of an impotent spectator at the hands of foreign ship-owners with the Air Corps out of action, the advice of the Department not being taken, and the fact that the danger has not yet been mitigated, although a week has passed? Would the Minister not agree that in view of all this the procedures and the system we have at our disposal are simply not adequate?
The first few points made by the Deputy would be better put to the Minister for Communications. I would not accept that our planning and our measures are inadequate. We have proved over the past few weeks that we have the capability of coping with a disaster. This is the first time our contingency plans have been put to the test.
The arrangements to deal generally with oil pollution incidents were last reviewed by the Government in 1984. It was then decided to augment contingency measures which essentially relied on local and regional responses to pollution at the time by establishing the operations group which would exercise overall central direction and control of operations to deal with major oil spillages threatening or affecting our shores.
The Kowloon Bridge and the Capo Emma incidents presented the first occasion on which it was necessary to call in the group. Last Monday week while visiting the incidents headquarters in Bantry, I chaired a meeting of the liaison committee of this operations group and I have first hand knowledge of how it operates and the co-ordination among all interested departments and parties involved. I should make it quite clear whose responsibility we are talking about. The Minister for the Environment has responsibility in relation to incidents such as the Kowloon Bridge and Capo Emma and must deal with any oil pollution, as far as possible protect important marine life in amenity areas and arrange for the clean up of contaminated coastal areas. The Minister for Communications has specific statutory responsibility for all matters relating to marine casualties including, where necessary, arrangements for the removal of fuel oil or oil cargo.
Does the Minister agree that all these committees which she visited, chaired and so on are really a substitute for the kind of action we need? When we have a disaster like this at least our three Air Corps spotter planes should be in the air and in action. I take the Minister's point that this is not her responsibility, but I assume she is speaking for the Government today. Would she agree that, although a week has passed, the danger is still there and the services of the State have not been effective? Will the Minister make a statement on how the transfer of the oil to the salvage ships is proceeding? Is it still going on at this moment? When will the transfer be finished?
That seems to be a different question. I cannot allow a debate.
In fairness, the Minister spoke in general about the situation off our shores.
A question please.
How is the transfer of oil to the salvage ships proceeding? Will it be finished within a few hours?
Operations have been interrupted by weather conditions and, weather permitting, we will continue as soon as possible. I might add that this is a matter for the Department of Communications.
I assume the Minister can communicate with that Minister.
No problem.
Can the Minister estimate when the transfer of oil will be completed?
As soon as it is safe and practicable this will be done.
Do the Government have any estimate when this will be?
It depends on the weather conditions and it is a matter for the Minister for Communications.
Weather permitting when will it be finished?
I am not in a position to give the exact number of hours, but a matter of days rather than weeks.
The Government do not know——
I would remind Deputies that when Ministers are answering questions in the House they speak for themselves and their Departments, not for the whole Government.
With respect, Sir, this is Department of the Environment Question Time——
Yes, but it is not a debate. If the Deputy wants specific answers to specific questions he should put them down.
I have. The question specifically asks about oil slicks. I asked the Minister in charge of the environment how the Department plan to protect the environment around our coasts.
The Deputy's last question asked about a transfer of oil. That is a matter for another Department.
If the Department of the Environment do not know——
I am calling the next question.
The Government are aware of what is happening and are satisfied with the arrangements. However, the Deputy's question would be more properly put to the Minister for Communications.
Obviously the Minister does not know when the operation will be completed.
Immediately the weather permits.
One or two days? That is all I wanted to know.
As soon as it can be done with safety.
The Deputy hardly expects us to be able to forecast the weather.
This Government got everything else wrong.
The Deputy might as well blame us for that too.
The Minister will be aware that some damage has already been done to the environment. Marine life and some of our seabirds have been threatened because of seepage from the Kowloon Bridge in particular. Can the Minister tell me who is monitoring that situation? Has the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry any responsibility for protection of herring stocks, mariculture projects and marine life in that area? This is seriously threatened — in fact, some damage has been done.
The monitoring groups and the liaison committee which I referred to earlier are representative of all the bodies concerned. Compensation, which is a matter to be considered shortly, will be pursued through the various groups.