Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

When the Minister responds, can he answer that question? Has the Minister seen the survey on mercury levels on the beach at the site to which I referred earlier? If he has, what was the response of the Department? Has the Department carried out its survey on the beach? If not, then why not? What was the response to the concerns expressed by the independent engineer who was working for the Department at the time? If the Minister does not have a response, why not?

The Minister must be on top of this so that confidence can be built in the community, and the Government should spend whatever money is necessary, even though budgets are tight, to make this site safe. The head of the Naval Service wrote a letter to the Department, expressing serious concerns about a health threat to the employees on the naval base. What was the response of the Department to that letter?

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