asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry whether the dumping of waste is occurring in territorial or international waters south of the Fastnet, if so, if he will give details of same and the steps being taken to monitor and control such activity.

No dumping occurs in territorial waters south of the Fastnet. The nearest sites used for disposal of wastes in international waters are 240-300 nautical miles south of the Fastnet. Most of the wastes dumped are containerised liquids whose dilution and dispersion follows from the gradual erosion of the drums on the sea bed.

The disposal of wastes in international waters around Ireland is regulated and controlled by international conventions, namely, the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (Oslo Convention) and the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention).

The Minister told the House that dumping takes place 240 miles from the Irish coast and I should like to know if that includes industrial and nuclear waste. Is the Minister satisfied that in future years there will be no danger of pollution as a result of some of those canisters opening? I am sure the Minister is aware that salt eats into almost everything. Has this matter been investigated by the IIRS?

In future our attitude will be to prevent pollution rather than to adopt a stand whereby we would allow a certain degree of pollution. My attitude is that we should endeavour to prevent it.

Is the Minister saying that industrial or nuclear waste will not be dumped in international waters in future?

I am not saying that, but we will need to monitor everything carefully to keep tabs on the part of the sea where any waste is dumped. We should ensure, as far as we can, that dumping is prevented rather than allowed in any way.

The way to do that is to try not to use our waters as a dumping area.

Certain practices are allowed at present and it is hard to know how to change them.

Time brings changes and changes are needed in this regard.

What Irish personnel are involved in monitoring the Oslo and London Conventions? If Irish personnel are not involved in such monitoring will the Minister indicate how the results of that process are directly conveyed to the Irish authorities?

In any case where waste originates here in any shape or form it is monitored here. I am sure each country has responsibility for monitoring its own waste. I am not aware if there is a pooling of the results of this monitoring but after I have that matter examined I will bring the details to the attention of the Deputy.

Is the Minister saying that under those conventions waste may have been dumped in the ocean which is deteriorating in its canister form but this country has not any way of monitoring that directly?

No. Dumping is not carried out in Irish territorial waters.

Unfortunately, waste does not respect the notional limit around the coast. Is the Minister saying that we cannot monitor that at present?

We have control over and monitor any waste dumped in our territorial waters. There are sites in international waters 240 to 300 nautical miles south of the Fastnet and that is the nearest dumping ground to us. There is a responsibility on the nation originating the waste to have that monitored. I am not aware where that information is fed into the Community machine but I will find out for the Deputy.

Do I take it that the Minister is not satisfied with the level of monitoring which has taken place so far?

I am not saying that but there is a greater awareness in all countries that something dumped into the sea is irretrievable. We will have to have a rethink about this.

To what extent are fish stocks which frequent the area where dumping takes place monitored?

The dumping takes place in 2,000 to 4,000 metres of water out of reach of any fishing efforts.

Is the Minister satisfied that he has the necessary surveillance and expertise to cope with the problem of dumping in the sea?

I am reasonably satisfied with the present surveillance. But if on investigation I find that it is not satisfactory I will improve it as far as our country is concerned. I will also keep tabs on what is happening at Community level.

I am sure the Minister is aware that surveillance only takes place before the canisters go into the sea and that there is no way it can take place once they are dumped. That is the problem.

That is not a question.