Toxic Dump – ‘It’s A Disgrace’ – Sean Kelly MEP

‘Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly to highlight Haulbowline toxic dump concerns in the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee’.

At a public meeting in Cobh on Monday the 19th, MEP for Ireland South, Sean Kelly announced his plan of action to tackle the Haulbowline toxic dump issue at European level.

“It is a disgrace that this site has been lying idle for the last decade and that a comprehensive clean up has not been accomplished. The 37% cancer rate above the national average in Cobh is a cold hard fact. Public health is of paramount importance”.

“Cobh and the Cork Harbour area highly regarded as popular tourist attractions. This toxic dump site takes away from the beauty of the area. It is an eyesore and it is not attractive for increasing tourism potential and developing the area. Each summer over 50 liners visit Cobh. It is a pity they have to look at this site”.

“I call for the Government to take immediate action without delay. The people of Cobh have been waiting too long for a baseline health study and it high time that such a study is conducted”.

“Based on the advice I have received from the Commission, I will be following a new line of enquiry addressing specific legal questions. I will be contacting the relevant bodies in the coming days”.

“I am happy to be in a position to announce that I will be drafting a petition to be sent to the Petitions Committee in the European Parliament to highlight the imminent public health and environmental threats posed by this site”.

“When the petition will be heard, representatives of the people of Cobh and the various pressure groups including the Cork Health Study Group will have an opportunity to address the Petitions Committee in the European Parliament in Brussels. The Haulbowline toxic dump issue will no longer be swept under the carpet”.

“One of the major tasks of the Petitions Committee is to investigate issues, raised by European citizens, who draw attention to alleged infringements of EU law. In practise almost half of the Petitions Committee activity concerns issues related to the application of EU law. This can lead to extensive debates in the Committee and may also lead to fact finding visits to the country or region involved”.

“I am confident that by bringing the Haulbowline issue to the Petitions Committee this will force the Government to comply with the relevant EU law and previous judgments by the Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Ireland can no longer ignore toxic waste dumps that do not have licence,” he concluded.