Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his response. The plan to move seven cylinders of hydrogen cyanide from a safe place in Dublin to a remote Army camp in County Wicklow has been the source of much local concern and criticism. Is the Minister aware, for example, that his colleague, Deputy Joe Behan, has called for the Taoiseach to transfer the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, out of his portfolio given the approach he has taken to this particular plan?

Perhaps the Minister will advise me as to how widespread is this loss of confidence in the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as a result of what is essentially a debacle. There has been no public consultation on the matter, the only public understanding of which came about as a result of a leak to the media.

As I understand it, the Department identified four sites from which one was chosen. Perhaps the Minister will inform the House the location of the other three sites and outline why this particular one was chosen. Why was the burn-off and explosion which was due to take place on 23 June cancelled? Was this related to the sabotage of the Army camp in question?

In an effort to re-assure people, will the risk assessment be published? What security checks have been carried out on the British company that will undertake this work?

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