Taoiseach accused of blocking inquiry into Estuary plant

Claims that Rusal Aughinish Alumina, the largest alumina plant in Europe, used lobbyist Frank Dunlop as its “fixer” have been levelled in the Dáil, writes Dan Danaher.

Deputy Paul Murphy told the Dáil on Wednesday afternoon he wanted to raise a “shocking example of where the state is failing to protect the well-being of people”.

“Those living in the shadow of the Aughinish Alumina plant in County Limerick have suffered massively from the toxic pollution from that plant.”

“People have gotten sick, animals have died and livelihoods have been wiped out by the pollution. When an investigation was done into the health impacts of the plant, Aughinish used the notorious Frank Dunlop as their fixer.

“Later 18 medical samples from Pat Geoghegan and his family mysteriously disappeared.”

Deputy Murphy said when the Taoiseach was Health Minister he was on record as supporting an independent inquiry into the missing samples. However, Deputy Murphy claimed Deputy Martin did a “u-turn” and ended up blocking this inquiry.

“Still to this day you have not explained that u-turn. Mr Geoghegan has now written to you, asking you for that inquiry. Will you grant it? He also asked for records of any contact between Mr Dunlop, yourself and your officials at the time about this investigation. Will you publish any?”

The Taoiseach recalled he met Mr Geoghegan while he was Health Minister between 2000 and 2004.

“My understanding is the EPA had done a lot of research at the time in terms of the implications of Aughinish, the health assessments and so on.

“It hadn’t been established by the statutory authorities in respect of impact on health. I would have met Pat Geoghegan at the time in terms of both impact on animal and human health.

“I don’t think it is fair to say an inquiry was blocked. I don’t have any recollection of meeting any individuals bar Mr Geoghegan himself, talking to officials in the department about that.”

“It was a matter the EPA had been doing a lot of work in relation to, in terms of its roles and statutory duties monitoring industrial plants to ensure they meet health and safety and public health requirements. It still remains for public health baseline studies to be done in the context of plants like that. I can recall baseline studies have been done and continued close to industry monitoring pollution levels in cattle and soil.

“My sense was the evidential base wasn’t one that was established around that, notwithstanding the strong personal testimony of Mr Geoghegan, who has pursued this on a lengthy basis.”

The company was given an opportunity on Wednesday afternoon to comment on these claims.

In its submission to the EPA, the company stated, “The Aughinish facility operates in compliance with stringent environmental regulations and continued monitoring by the EPA. It represents the highest standards in excellence in alumina production.

“This is demonstrated by the findings of the Commodity Research Unit (CRU) which ranks the AAL facility within the top 10% of alumina refineries globally with respect to minimising carbon emissions. AAL are currently operating with Best Available Technologies when compared to industry standard.

“Globally speaking, AAL is amongst the highest-ranking Alumina refineries in terms of energy efficiency and has the fourth lowest alumina plant carbon footprint worldwide at 0.516 tCO2/t product versus a world average of 1.29 tCO2/t product, amongst 89 alumina refineries. AAL has the lowest carbon footprint in the world for refining bauxite that requires high temperature digestion, which is the most used technology today.”

A €5.2 million EPA-led inquiry on report into the animal and human health problems in West Limerick concluded all available data indicate that the levels of potential pollutants in the Askeaton area in the 1995-1998 period were below those likely to cause harm to the environment generally, to animals or to humans.

Furthermore, the available information suggests that this was also the position since the mid-1980s at least.

The Askeaton Inquiry stated “an independent human health problem arising from atmospheric emissions in the area is unlikely given that, since the mid-1980s, air quality measurements in the area have complied with EU standards”.

The investigators’ final report concluded that environmental pollution, toxic substances in the diet, soil composition anomalies and herbage composition anomalies are all unlikely causes of the animal health problems on the Somers and Ryan farms.

“Given the animal health study findings, there is little cause for concern that the problems in the Askeaton area posed a threat to human health.

“Specific studies carried out as part of this investigation showed none or only minor differences between the human health experience in the Askeaton population and the populations in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.”