David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

It was.

Will the Minister also give assurances regarding the position of the Irish Naval Service on Haulbowline Island? Naval personnel are living and working there. A member of the service rang me yesterday to tell me that when the recent work started, the high levels of dust on the base were frightening in the mornings when they entered it. In his response the Minister said he was worried about a potential threat to the environment. Could he quantify that threat? Why was it okay to move the surface slag from the site and not okay to move the underlying material, which amounts to 500,000 tonnes? Is the cost of the work a factor in the Minister's decision to cease work and cap the site? Will he state whether there is an aquifer under the island or in the area that might be at risk? I understand the site is in a limestone area. Is there leachate seeping from the site into ground water or sea water and is there a danger of dust blowing into Cobh, east Cork and the surrounding area?

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