Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, for coming before the House to deal with this extremely serious matter. What happened at the weekend in Ballymount industrial estate and surrounding areas highlights the dangers involved in storing any kind of toxic material near residential areas. People in Inchicore, where I live, Walkinstown, Ballyfermot and elsewhere could smell the fire. I am really happy that Dublin Fire Brigade took command and dealt with the fire extremely well. Members of the brigade are still present at the site as the fire continues to burn. I had occasion to visit St. James's Hospital last week and I was informed that 60% of people from the area who attend the accident and emergency department there have respiratory problems.

On the evening on which the fire began, people were asked to stay indoors. I spoke to a young family who were obliged to leave the area and go to stay in their parents' house as a result of the fact that the smell from the fire had permeated their own home. I am pleased that the Garda is going to conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire. However, I remain concerned about the storage toxic materials near residential areas and the possibility of further incidents occurring in the future. In the context, I ask the Minister to commission a review of all toxic waste storage plants licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and to reassess their suitability for dealing with such waste in close proximity to residential areas. I also ask the Minister to examine the regulation relating to the storage of toxic material in such plants. I accept that Oxigen has stated that such material has not been stored at its plant for some time. If that is the case, I wonder where it is actually being stored. I ask the Minister to deal with this matter in a serious fashion and to review the EPA's system for issuing licences to these plants.

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