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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 1

Written Answers. - Phosphorous Devices.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

55 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his Department raised with the British Government the recent appearance of canisters along Ireland's coastline. [16478/98]

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

80 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his Department has completed its investigation into the origin and likely number of phosphorous incendiary devices recently found along the east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21947/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 80 together.

Deputies will recall that 28 phosphorous devices were washed up along the east coast between 3 and 8 June 1998. A further device was washed ashore on 19 July 1998. These devices apparently originated in the Beaufort Dyke dump site, which lies between the coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

While I am relieved that no further devices have been washed ashore, I am obviously very concerned that any devices should have appeared in this way. I am disappointed that these devices have apparently originated in the Beaufort Dyke dump site despite a management regime for the dump site which was agreed at ministerial level with the UK two years ago.

As soon as devices started to come ashore I contacted the relevant UK ministers to express the Irish Government's serious concern at these developments and to impress upon them the need to find a solution to the problem. In addition, officials of my Department were in regular contact with their counterparts in the various UK Departments concerned. Following a direct request from me to the UK Secretary of State for Defence, officials of my Department and the Marine Institute travelled to London to meet senior officials from a range of UK Government Departments and agencies at the Ministry of Defence. They reiterated the Irish Government's concern about recent events. The meeting reviewed the history of the dump site, the surveys that had been carried out by the Scottish Office in 1995 and 1996, and also past and future activities in the area. So far, however, it has not been possible to identify a definite reason for the devices being washed ashore. My officials pointed to the need to resolve this problem. They highlighted the need for research into the state of the dump site and the question of reviewing the management regime agreed in 1996. They identified specific areas for action, including improved communications between Ireland and the UK, an early warning system in the event that munitions are disturbed, and operating instructions and warnings for fishermen and others carrying out work in the area. A further meeting between the two sides will take place in Dublin shortly to agree further action.
In addition, at the ministerial meeting of the OSPAR commission on the protection of the marine environment in the north-east Atlantic in July I raised the issue of munitions dumping and drew my colleagues' attention to recent events in Ireland. The meeting agreed to my suggestion that OSPAR should consider how to address this issue in the future. My officials will shortly be presenting proposals to OSPAR for further action in this area later this month.
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