Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There have not been animal deaths there for some time. There were animal deaths due to lead poisoning. The issue now is that the actual soil is contaminated from the river. The lead levels have gone across into the soil and into the grass that was cut to make silage, which is fed to the animals. It will take a period of time for us to figure our exactly what is going on here.

This will not end even if they find out what the issues are relating to those two farmers and their cattle. This will not end there. Until this State firmly takes control of this situation there will be ongoing issues here. The patience of the people living in the community there is worn out. I ask the Minister to at least meet with them or with the county council in the coming weeks to discuss this issue. I believe this can be solved over a short period of years. They are not looking for solutions immediately. They are just looking for a mapped way forward.

There is a huge development going on there, more than €500 million worth of an investment. It will provide 10% of the county's electricity when it is finished. It is a brilliant development that will clean up the Magcobar area. The ancillary side of this is that these lands need to be compulsorily purchased by the State, for what I would perceive to be very little money, and rehabilitated. At least if they are owned by the State we can put in place a plan to do that. Human health, animal health and the food that results from those animals are all the consequences of that. The State needs to intervene.

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