Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join other Senators in congratulating Senators Whelan and Landy on the introduction of this motion. Senator Whelan spoke very well earlier. Nothing is more important than the environment, and the protection of the environment, for the future of our country and its citizens. Everyone who has spoken - we have heard a rainbow of speeches - seems to have a similar story about the EPA. I would like to refer briefly to my story, which comes from the beginning of my research. Coincidentally, in light of Senator Whelan's motion, I met some people from Askeaton, County Limerick, in recent days. New evidence has emerged to suggest that a report carried out by the EPA into sickness among animals and humans in Askeaton since the early 1980s was seriously flawed. I wish I could join Senator Landy in talking about the wonderful victory that was achieved some years ago. I come from the same area. I live right across the river from Merck Sharp & Dohme. This is not a story of a wonderful victory, however. The EPA has written a report on the Askeaton case. Reports have been authored by many other bodies, including Teagasc. According to a report by Adrienne Murphy, a journalist who has investigated this case:

It is impossible to say that the authors of these reports deliberately got it wrong. But the effect, in my view, was that they covered up the industrial poisoning of a community on the basis of the evidence I have analysed .... The Aughinish Alumina plant is a huge aluminium processing plant, located beside the farmland of Askeaton. Waste streams are discharged from this plant, which are stored in ‘open waste lagoons’ directly adjacent to the farms. Aughinish’s Annual Environmental Reports (AER), which are on public record and were therefore accessible to the EPA, document that some of their waste streams contain fluoride as a contaminant at concentrations of up to 9,000mg/k. According to Declan Waugh, the Irish scientist who has been researching the dangers of fluoride [Senators will be familiar with him] this makes the Aughinish waste lagoons not just the biggest single source of fluoride pollution in the country but also one of the most fluoride-contaminated sites in the world. The prevailing wind blows right across these lagoons towards the area of Askeaton.

Animals in the area have died and have had miscarriages. Ladies have had miscarriages at the same time. Farmers have had to sell up and move to Tipperary. There is a farmer still there whose farm is useless. I will not read any more of this long report by Adrienne Murphy other than to record her assertion that "what is utterly shocking in the context is that the EPA - the acronym stands for Environmental Protection Agency - apparently made a conscious decision not to investigate the possibility of fluoride pollution in the area, citing the 'absence' of industrial sources of fluoride in the area as its justification". I intend to drop a note down to the Minister, Deputy Hogan, about this matter. These people need help. Senator Whelan has thankfully brought the EPA to account this evening. This is another example of an area in Ireland that needs to be properly investigated. The citizens need to be assisted in this regard.