Vol. 492 No. 6
88 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence if, in relation to the report that he asked the Army authorities to present to the United Kingdom Defence Attache, his Department is in possession of records that would indicate the volume and proportion of Irish munitions dumped in the Beaufort Dyke site with the approval of, and in co-operation with, the United Kingdom authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14752/98]
In the period from 1970 to the mid 1980s some 1,100 tons aproximately of obsolete ammunition was disposed of at sea in the Beaufort Dyke. The material consisted of small arms ammunition, bombs, depth charges, fuses, primers, shells, grenades, pyrotechnics etc. In 1970 the disposal was carried out by a British Admiralty Vessel. All disposals subsequent to this instance were carried out by the Naval Service.
Under the Dumping at Sea Act, 1996 such dumping is no longer permitted.
