Fuel laundering pollution
Senator Wilson warns that toxic waste from fuel laundering is being pumped into reservoirs serving Dundalk, surrounding areas and Crossmaglen.
Senator Jim D'Arcy has referred to an article which states fuel smugglers are pumping toxic waste which is linked with cancers and abnormalities in unborn babies straight into water supplies in the Republic. Toxic waste, the result of fuel laundering, is being pumped into the main reservoir that supplies Dundalk and surrounding areas, as well as Crossmaglen in County Armagh. That is how serious the situation is regarding the fuel laundering being carried out, predominantly in Border areas, by gangsters who claim to be representatives of the ordinary people. That is the reality of what is happening. On a number of occasions, with Senators Terry Brennan, Jim D'Arcy and others, I have raised this serious matter. While I commend An Garda Síochána and the Customs service on this side of the Border for the major efforts they are making to discover these illegal operations, the article written by the highly respected security correspondent of the Sunday Independent, Mr. Cusack, highlighted some other very serious concerns, one of which was that a blind eye was being turned to these activities by the security forces and PSNI in the Six Counties. If that is the case, the matter should be addressed as a matter of urgency. The health concerns are extremely serious and should be addressed by the authorities on this side of the Border. The financial loss to the State is estimated at €150 million per year, which makes this a very serious revenue issue. Some £80 million is being lost to the Northern Ireland Assembly. In addition to the call by made Senator Jim D'Arcy for the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, to come before the House, an urgent meeting should be sought by the Taoiseach with the British Prime Minister and by the Ministers for Finance, Justice and Equality and the Environment, Community and Local Government with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Assembly. This is an extremely serious issue which raises its head from time to time and then tends to be forgotten about, but there are some very serious questions to be answered by the so-called security forces in the Six Counties.