Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. He referred to depressions but local residents describe them as sinkholes and they have erected warning signs along the tunnelling route relating to the final section of the Corrib pipeline. Regardless of whether one refers to it as a depression or a sinkhole, was a phenomenon of this nature predicted in the environmental impact statement submitted during the planning process relating to the project? Local people are of the view that these sinkholes - the Minister refers to them as depressions - constitute a serious risk. Do we have the word of anyone other than the company that escaping air is the only factor contributing to the creation of this phenomenon? I am concerned that depressions or sinkholes will pose a significant risk to the integrity of a pipeline which is being laid across undulating ground. If a sinkhole of a particular size gave rise to the pipeline being fractured, we would then be in serious trouble. Who is responsible for establishing the precise cause of the sinkholes and for ensuring that there will not be consequential or unintended damage as a result of this phenomenon?

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