Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 7

Written Answers. - Kuwait Environmental Damage.

Roger T. Garland

Ceist:

87 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether this country should contribute to a United Nations fund to deal with the appalling environmental damage in Kuwait; his views on whether urgent action, if not taken, could lead to this problem becoming a global one, with potential catastrophic consequences for food production in some Third World countries.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

The Government share the very widespread concern about the serious environmental damage caused in Kuwait during the occupation of that country and the potential consequences at global level. A large number of oil wells were set on fire and are still burning; and there was a deliberate release of crude oil into the waters of the gulf with consequences for the entire ecosystem and for the supply of drinking water for the inhabitants of the region.

The countries of the region have sought the assistance of the international community; and they have indicated that they will require technical advice and special equipment to combat the fires and the spillages rather than financial support.

I am not aware of any proposals to establish a specific United Nations fund to deal with the damage caused. However, the international community has been very active in its efforts to alleviate the serious consequences for the environment. UN specialised agencies involved include the International Maritime Organisations, the UN Environment Programme and the World Health Organisation.

On Monday last, 18 March, the EC Ministers attending the Environment Council in Brussels were briefed by the Minister for Health of Bahrain who is acting Secretary of the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment. He identified the oil well fires and the resulting acid rain as the most serious problem; and he estimated that these fires could take from 18 months to three years to extinguish, depending on the degree to which the oil companies could divert their expertise from other, existing commitments.

Following this briefing, the Environment Council discussed the situation. It decided that there should be a co-ordinated Community response in full co-operation with the countries of the region, with the specialised agencies of the UN which I have mentioned and with the European oil industry which have expertise which could be used in dealing with the fires at the oil wells. Technical expertise could also be provided to deal with oil spillages through the task force which exists in the Community to combat oil spillages in Community waters.

I believe that Ireland can help most effectively through its support for this co-ordinated action by the European Community in the co-ordination of which the EC Commission will of course have an important role.