John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 1070: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to illegal dumping taking place in Somalia; if he has raised the issue at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10135/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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There is ongoing concern within the United Nations environment programme about the possibility of large scale illegal dumping of toxic materials in Somalia. I understand that the programme is undertaking further investigations following the recent tsunami which is reported to have uncovered evidence of such materials. As parties to the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste, for which the UN programme is responsible, Ireland, the EU Commission and other member states are committed to the regulation of waste transhipments in an environmentally responsible way.

All exports of waste from the EU to African states are prohibited under Article 18 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93, which gives effect to the Basel Convention. Regular inspections take place under corresponding Irish regulations to ensure compliance with all requirements of the EU waste transhipment regulation. Ireland, through its participation together with its EU partners in the Basel Convention and its ongoing and increased support of the UN programme, will continue to support the objective of full compliance with agreed protocols in this important matter.