John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the former steelworks site on Haulbowline island. When the matter was last raised in this Chamber, I was in Cork at a meeting on the Green Paper on local government reform with local representatives from all political parties. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, for deputising for me on that occasion and dealing with such a complex issue. I wish to address the real concerns of those living and working in the Cork Harbour area. I want to make it clear that we are dealing with an environmental challenge that did not manifest itself overnight but is instead the legacy of an industrial past. While we do not have much experience of such a legacy in this country, it is common elsewhere in Europe.

The steel plant on Haulbowline island was an important part of the local economy for more than six decades. The site has the potential to contribute to the local society and economy again in the future, albeit in a more environmentally acceptable manner, and I think it will do so. Industrial activities of this nature were poorly regulated during those decades, unfortunately. By contrast, an integrated approach to the regulation of such facilities is now the norm. The consequence of such poorly regulated activity is the accumulation of an unquantifiable, but clearly significant, quantity of waste in the area of the facility known as the "east tip". While we do not have all the details of what was dumped there over a 62-year period, we know that the site is seriously contaminated. It has been widely known for some time that serious contamination has taken place. The contamination is rightly a cause of concern for the local community.

I propose to address the role of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in managing the Haulbowline site. I will do so from a twin perspective — to allay public concern and to challenge those who are interested in other issues. As Deputies are aware, the steel plant was sold by a previous Government in 1996 for £1 and went into liquidation in 2001. In 2003, the Government gave the Department the task of co-ordinating the complex legal issues which were outstanding at that time. The Department was also asked to provide for site security and maintenance. Crucially, it was given responsibility for enabling a site investigation to be carried out to assist the Government in determining the best option, environmentally and economically, for the future use of the site and its remediation.

In its discharge of this mandate, the Department arranged for the carrying out of a comprehensive site investigation; established a system of ongoing environmental monitoring; decontaminated and demolished the steelworks buildings; and arranged for a site surface clearance contract with Hammond Lane Metal Company Limited. As a result of these actions, the Government can now make an informed decision on the future use of the site. A detailed risk assessment of the entire site, with recommendations for the appropriate remediation that is required, can be undertaken. Last evening, I met representatives of the local community, including Senator Boyle. I took the opportunity to hand to them the entire report on the site investigation which concluded in 2005, including the full suite of technical data it generated.

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