Vol. 500 No. 7
128 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the terms of reference of the emergency response unit to fish kills; the number of people employed in the unit; and the number of times it has been called since it was formed. [5245/99]
The establishment of an emergency response unit under the direction of the Central Fisheries Board is an important element in my six point water quality action plan. I have already given details of this action plan to this House. The emergency response unit was included in the action plan to ensure that the resources of the Central Fisheries Board would be available in tackling in particular serious pollution incidents.
Each regional fisheries board is responsible in its own area for both pollution prevention and response measures. Under my action plan, a regional board can rapidly augment its own resources to deal with any pollution incidents by availing of the expertise and other necessary resources of the Central Fisheries Board and, if necessary, other regional boards at very short notice to ensure that the incident is dealt with both swiftly and thoroughly.
The number and type of people deployed by the central board to assist will depend on the gravity and nature of the incident. Since my action plan was announced the Central Fisheries Board has supported the regional boards in a number of pollution incidents. In 1998 the central board provided specialist support and analysis in some 25 pollution incidents cases, seven of which involved fish kills, and already in 1999 the central board has responded to four pollution incidents.
