Has any lasting environmental or other damage been done, in the view of the Minister or the Department? Would the Minister like to comment on some of the press statements made at the time of the disaster and in the immediate aftermath to the effect that more could have been done by the Department? Have the Department concluded that more could have been done at the time and are there any procedures in place to deal with a similar situation in the future?

I am not sure if there has been any permanent damage resulting from the incident, but it highlights the need for adequate legislative arrangements to deal with incidents of this nature. Further questions will be dealt with this afternoon and it will be indicated that the overall legislative and physical arrangements for dealing with an emergency of this sort are certainly not adequate and must be improved.