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Dáil Éireann - Volume 277 - 06 February, 1975 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gulf Oil Operations. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley 34. Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Transport and Power the conditions, if any, laid down by him in relation to Gulf Oil operations at Whiddy Island; and if he will make a comprehensive statement on the matter. Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: Since the establishment of the Gulf Oil terminal in Bantry Bay was first considered, close consideration has been given at all stages to the operating procedures and safeguards which the company should adopt so as to ensure safety of navigation and reduce the risk of oil pollution to a minimum. When the terminal was opened in 1968 detailed operating arrangements to this end were indicated to, and accepted by, Gulf on whom the responsibility rested. The adequacy of these arrangements has been the subject of frequent consultation with Gulf over the years and the arrangements themselves have been reviewed with the company from time to time in the light of working experience. Following the spillage from the SS Universe Leader in Bantry Bay in October, 1974, improved procedures for handling oil, recommended by my technical advisers, were accepted by Gulf Oil and put into operation. These procedures relate mainly to inspection and control measures. Following the spillage in January, 1975, from the SS Afran Zodiac which, was due to defective fendering on one of the tug-boats in attendance on the tanker, I arranged, with the full co-operation of Gulf Oil, for temporary operating restrictions pending the provision of satisfactory fendering on the tug-boats These requirements were that— 1957 (a) substantial supplementary padding should be provided on the [1957] tug-boats pending redesign of the tug-boats fendering; (b) the tug-boats should be inspected before each operation; (c) tug-boats operations should be carried out only in fair weather conditions. The day-to-day implementation of these requirements is a matter for Gulf Oil who do not consider them unreasonable in the circumstances. Gulf Oil have every incentive to expedite provision of the new fendering on the tug-boats and I have every confidence that they will do so in the shortest possible time. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: What precisely does the Minister mean by fair weather conditions? Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: That is a broad question. Mr. Coughlan Mr. Coughlan Mr. Coughlan: The Deputy must know all about stormy weather in the Fianna Fáil Party. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Order. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Cool water. Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: What is meant by fair weather in this context is that the pilot who is taking the ship out must accept responsibility for moving the ship from the berth if he considers weather conditions are above what would normally be safe—it is a bit technical inasmuch as the pilot is the person responsible for moving the ship. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: What wind force is laid down? Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: There is no wind force and no wave height laid down by my Department. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Therefore, the Minister is making a denial here that he made any statement to the effect that force 3 or force 4 winds are dangerous in relation to the unloading of tankers? Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: There has been no wind force laid down by my Department. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy 1958 [1958] An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 35. Mr. O'Sullivan Mr. O'Sullivan Mr. O'Sullivan: The Deputy has wrong information. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: I think it is the Government Information Service again. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Let us get on with Question Time. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: A Cheann Comhairle, this is a report in the newspapers. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Let us proceed with Question Time in an orderly fashion. Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: Might I interrupt the Deputy? The Government Information Service did not put out such a statement. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Who did? Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: I do not know but the Government Information Service did not. Let us be clear about that. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: This is leading to an argument. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Is the Minister aware that because of the report that was issued and generally because of the Minister's handling of the whole affair four tankers that were scheduled to come to Bantry within the last week have not come? Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: No, I am not. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Well, then, the Minister is not very well informed. Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: I am well informed. I should say that these are temporary arrangements pending the refendering of the tugs. They have been put in there with the acceptance and co-operation of the Gulf Oil Company. They are quite satisfied that they are necessary in the circumstances. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Is it not a fact that the Minister has had very bad and wrong advice from somebody—— An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: This must be the Deputy's final supplementary. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley 1959 [1959] Mr. Crowley: ——either in his Department or elsewhere? Is the Minister aware that this is having the effect of endangering employment in Bantry and, as I see it, has the effect also of cancelling—— An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is repeating himself. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: It will also have the effect of causing a severe loss of income to the people of Bantry. Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: Not at all. The Deputy is very misinformed about it. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: I am afraid the Minister is not being informed. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: When the Deputy asks a question he ought to listen to the answer. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: If the Chair would stop interrupting, we might be able to hear. The Minister is living in his ivory tower up here and does not know what is going on. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Perhaps the Deputy might listen to the Ceann Comhairle more often. Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: Who is doing all the interrupting? Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: The Minister might tell us. The Minister is living in his ivory tower and does not know what is going on. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Let us get on to Question No. 35. Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: I have said this umpteen times. The Gulf Oil terminal, to my mind, is of benefit to this country. I think the employment it gives in the area is very welcome. But there are other people getting their livelihood from that area, fishermen and tourism interests, and their interests must be protected as well. There is no point in destroying the livelihoods of two sets of people because the conditions under which unloading of oil is carried out endanger it. It is quite possible that they can live together and all progress together. But one of them cannot advance at the expense of the other two. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy 1960 [1960] An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 35. I have called the next question. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Has the Minister had any complaints from fishermen or anybody else in the Bantry area? Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: No, I have not. That is what I am saying. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: No complaints from either the fishermen or—— An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Next question, please. (Interruptions.) Mr. O'Sullivan Mr. O'Sullivan Mr. O'Sullivan: Did the Minister refuse to meet a deputation from the people in Bantry at any time? Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry Mr. P. Barry: No, not at any time. (Interruptions.) An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: The Chair has called the next question on a number of occasions. Will the Chair please be obeyed? Dáil Éireann 277 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Gulf Oil Operations. Questions 19750206
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