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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1991

Vol. 413 No. 9

Adjournment Debate. - Transport and Storage of Dangerous Substances.

I thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter. Every day the unsuspecting population of Dublin are put at extreme risk with the storage of and the passage through Dublin of highly dangerous and toxic chemicals by rail. Located in Dublin port not one mile from Fairview, Clontarf, North Strand, Ballybough and Croke Park areas is the Asahi storage plant for highly dangerous and toxic chemicals namely, acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate. They are awaiting transport by rail to the Asahi plant in Ballina, County Mayo.

Acrylonitrile is vinyl cyanide. On combustion it gives off cyanide gas which kills, in a matter of seconds, by inhalation through the lungs or through absorption of the skin. It has a low flash point which means it ignites very easily. When exposed to the atmosphere because it is heavier than air and lighter than water it forms a fog or a haze. Its dispersal is entirely dependent on the weather conditions prevailing at the time. If it is a calm day it will hang over Dublin Bay like a shroud killing all before it. This cloud would make the Union Carbide disaster in India look like a tea party in comparison.

Trains daily, unbelievably, ferry at evening rush hour from Dublin port 12,000 gallons of acrylonitrile, 10,000 gallons of methyl acrylate and 16,000 gallons of gas oil through north Dublin which has a population of 250,000 people.

An additional hazard for the unsuspecting people of Dublin is the transportation of approximately 400 tonnes of anhydrous ammonia from Marina Point in Cork to Arklow in County Wicklow. Ammonia as we know is a highly irritant and toxic corrosive gas. Why must the train from Cork to Arklow go through Dublin? It does not make sense. International fire authorities have stated that ammonia is extremely dangerous in close contact with acrylonitrile. Amazingly, these trains pass alongside the same section of track at or about the same time during rush hour every evening.

The population of north and south Dublin are needlessly, for the profit motive, put at risk by the passage of these chemicals through its city.

The storage plant in Dublin port was foisted upon the Dublin Port and Docks Board by the then Fianna Fáil Government because of the siege mentality of the Japanese economy who wanted access to EC markets and saw Dublin port as an ideal location. Murphy's law states that if it can happen it will happen. It has happened three times in Dublin Port in the last three years — on 20 February 1988 when the Tipperary and Sumburgh Head were in collision at virtually the same location as last week's tragic accident between the mv Kilkenny and the mv Hasselwerder; on 30 January 1987 when there was a derailment of Asahi chemical rail containers at Dublin port and two years prior to that when there was a major leakage of acrylonitrile in the midlands from a faulty valve on the Asahi train. The examples are numerous.

It is grossly irresponsible of the Minister, and the Government, to allow the continued storage of these deadly substances in Dublin Port. It is damnably irresponsible of the Minister and his Department to allow such substances to be transported by rail through Dublin, across the midlands, to Mayo. The solution is simple. The Minister must insist that the acrylonitrile be transported directly by sea to Ballina. They have the facilities, the terminal and the necessary expertise.

I would be grateful if the Deputy would bring his remarks to a close.

In addition, it would give 60 extra jobs to Ballina. I ask the Minister to act now before it is too late. The people of Dublin and this country are being put at serious risk if this situation is allowed to continue.

The storage of dangerous chemicals in Dublin Port and throughout the State is controlled through the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, the Dangerous Substances Acts, 1972 and 1979 and regulations made under those Acts.

Certain industrial activities, which include the storage of dangerous chemicals, are governed by the European Communities (Major Accident Hazards of Certain Industrial Activities) Regulations, 1986 and amendments to these regulations made in 1989.

The transport of chemicals by road through Dublin or through any part of the country is governed by the Dangerous Substances (Conveyance of Scheduled Substances by Road) (Trade or Business) Regulations, 1980 and amendments made to these regulations in 1986. The provisions of these regulations are based on the requirements of the European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road, otherwise known as the ADR Agreement.

The general protection of the public is governed by section 7 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, which requires every employer and self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that members of the public who may be affected thereby are not exposed to risks to their safety or health.

A booklet originally published by my Department and now available from the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health entitled, Guide to Conveyance of Dangerous Substances by Road, provides general guidance on the subject to employers and employees including drivers, consignors and carriers. The Federation of Irish Chemical Industries has also published a code of practice for the transport of hazardous chemicals by road.

The Health and Safety Authority are responsible for the enforcement of legislation governing the storage and transport of dangerous substances by road. The inspectorate of the authority carry out regular road checks with the assistance of the Garda Síochána to ensure compliance with the requirements of the relevant legislation. In addition they carry out regular inspections and checks of the storage facilities in the Dublin port area. No fatalities have occurred which could be attributed to dangerous substances since the introduction of the 1980 regulations.

The Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications are responsible for regulating the transport of dangerous substances by rail and a Bill to give effect to international regulations on the transport of dangerous substances by rail, known as RID, is being prepared at present by the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications.

Tank containers and tankers used in the transport of dangerous substances by rail already comply with the specifications of the international union of rail-ways and trains carrying dangerous goods, and are operated in accordance with the requirements of RID. I am satisfied that the legislation available and the arrangements for its enforcement are sufficient to ensure that consignors and carriers of dangerous substances together with those involved in the storage of dangerous chemicals discharge their primary responsibility in relation to the safety of the public.

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