Paul Murphy demands inquiry into missing samples at Oganis plant
Paul Murphy raised allegations about toxic pollution from the Oganis alumina plant in County Limerick and demanded an independent inquiry after 18 medical samples went missing. He called for publication of any contact records between the plant's lobbyist and officials and challenged a claimed U-turn on an earlier promise of an inquiry.
Allegations of pollution and missing medical samples
Paul Murphy said those living in the shadow of the Oganis - alumina plant in County Limerick have suffered massively from toxic pollution, reporting illness, animal deaths and ruined livelihoods. He highlighted that an investigation into local health impacts involved the use of lobbyist Frank Dunlop and that 18 medical samples from resident Pat Gagan and his family later disappeared.
Calls for independent inquiry and records
Murphy recalled that the minister had previously been on record supporting an independent inquiry into the missing samples but allegedly did a U-turn and blocked it. He asked whether the minister will now grant the inquiry requested by Mr Gagan and whether any records of contact between Mr Dunlop and officials will be published.
Ministerial reply and the EPA's role
A ministerial reply in the transcript recalled meeting Pat Gagan between 2000 and 2004 while serving as Minister for Health and noted that the EPA had undertaken research into the plant's implications. The minister denied recollection of meeting Mr Gagan or blocking an inquiry, said the evidential base around the case was not established, and emphasised that baseline public health studies remain necessary and have been carried out in other locations monitoring cattle and soil.
Wellbeing framework and indicators
The exchange also touched on a wellbeing framework modelled on the OECD and adapted for Ireland, with around 11 dimensions including subjective wellbeing, mental and physical health, knowledge and skills, income and wealth, housing and built area, environment and biodiversity, safety, job quality, time use, community and cultural participation, and civic engagement. The transcript notes a dashboard of about 34 indicators from the CSO and a forthcoming second report to refine the framework.
Other issues raised in the session
Brief references were made to wards of court, with a suggestion that the minister for justice has responsibility, and to excise duties and inflation, which was noted may rise because of the war.
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I want to raise a shocking example of where the state is completely failing to protect the well-being of people. Those living in the shadow of the Oganis alumina plant in County Limerick have suffered massively from the toxic pollution from that plant. People have gotten sick, animals have died and livelihoods have been wiped out by the pollution. When an investigation was done into the health impacts of the plant in the locality, Oganis used the notorious lobbyist Frank Dunlop as their fixer. Later, 18 medical samples from resident Pat Gagan and his family mysteriously disappeared. When you were Minister for Health, you were on record as supporting an independent inquiry into the missing samples, yet you ended up doing a U-turn and blocking such an inquiry. Still, to this day, you have not explained that U-turn. Mr Gagan has now written to you asking for that inquiry. Will you grant it? He has also asked for records of any contact between Mr Dunlop and yourself and your officials at the time about this investigation. Will you publish anything? In terms of Oganis and in terms of Pat Gagan, I do recall meeting Pat Gagan back in the early 2000s, between 2000 and 2004 when I was Minister for Health. My understanding was that the EPA had done a lot of research at the time in terms of the implications of Oganis and the health assessments and so on. It hadn't been established by statutory authorities in respect of the impact on health and I would have met Pat Gagan at the time in terms of both impact on animal health and impact on human health. I don't think it's fair to say an inquiry was blocked, but again, I don't have any recollection of meeting any individuals by Mr Gagan himself and talking to officials in the department about that. But also that it was a matter that the EPA had been doing a lot of work in relation to in terms of its rules and statutory duty in terms of monitoring industrial plants and to ensure that they meet safety and health and safety requirements and public health requirements. It still remains for baseline public health studies to be done in the context of plants like that. I mean, I can recall in other locations, baseline health studies have been done, have been continued in areas close to industry, monitoring pollution levels in cattle and in soil and so on. And so, but my, and I just speaking, because you just raised this and I'm just speaking, my sense was that the evidential base wasn't one that was established around that, notwithstanding the very strong personal testimony of Mr Gagan himself, who has pursued this on a lengthy basis. In terms of Deputy Moynihan's points, I think you've, you've made some very good points in terms of the wellbeing framework and will issues around community, spiritual health and so on be considered a will. And I think our framework is based on the OECD model, but has been moulded to suit Irish context based on consultation with stakeholders, experts, policymakers and the public. So there's about 11 dimensions, which includes the framework, so subjective wellbeing, mental and physical health, knowledge and skills, income and wealth, housing and built area, environment, climate and biodiversity, safety and security, work and job quality, time use, community, social connections and cultural participation, which is kind of the areas that you would identify, I think. And civic engagement and cultural expression and cultural expression and the initial wellbeing framework will be refined to reflect recent consultation and further research in the second report, which will be published in the coming months. Okay. And there's also some indicators now from the dashboard chosen, what is, and the CSO and so on, measuring life, life and progress in Ireland through about 34 indicators, a set of indicators. And again, our performance relative to the OECD's house life initiative, which is the basis for our framework. This set of indicators are based on areas that were highlighted as important for Ireland through the state NESC. Question 12. Sorry. And then there was the wards of court. The wards of court. I'll come back to your deputy on that. You've raised an issue. I'll talk to them as for justice. I presume has responsibility over that area. Deputy Barry, again, in terms of the excise duties and the cuts we've made. I'm not in a position now to say what inflation will rise to. There's been various scenarios that we need to move on around that, but it's going to rise because of the war. Question 12, please. It's 5.7 now in February. Question 12. Please. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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