Warning signage needed at at former Irish Steel site - Ní Riada

Speaking on recent developments regarding the threat of legal action by Friends of the Irish Environment around the debacle surrounding the site of Haulbowline’s former steel mill, Liadh Ní Riada the Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South said;

“The legacy of the serious health concerns posed by this site to the public alone warrants signage.

“The most recent Fianna Fáil government claimed before that there was no unacceptable risk to the health of local residents and visitors. Their government back in 2008 is on the record of supporting an official report stating this and that the people of Cork Harbour and visitors would not be exposed to any risks and were subsequently accused of a cover up.

“However, a 2017 risk assessment for the former steel factory site – released under the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations – states that ongoing contamination from the factory site could pose a “significant risk to human health for future site users”.

“There has been remediation efforts for the East Tip section of the island but the Fine Gael government has neglected to clean up the rest of the island, considering that more than 500,000 tonnes of toxic waste, including heavy metals and carcinogens such as Chromium 6, were found there.

“I think its in the public interest that the Fine Gael government ensure that the whole island is decontaminated and that the public and visitors are made aware of the history of this site and the entire island.”