Paul Murphy warns of 'toxic time bomb' at Russell Illumina site
Paul Murphy raised urgent concerns in parliament about a 50 million tonne red mud storage at Russell Illumina near Askeaton, saying it contains uranium, lead, mercury and hazardous salt cake and is seeping into the estuary. He called on the Government and the EPA to intervene, demanded no rock blasting prior to inspection, and said he would refer his remarks to the EPA and seek a reply.
Site contamination
The speech described a massive red mud storage area at Russell Illumina - formerly Oganis Illumina - that Murphy said contains 50 million tonnes of toxic waste with no lining. He said the material includes uranium, lead, mercury and hazardous salt cake, is killing wildlife and threatens public health as it seeps into the estuary.
Expansion plans questioned
Murphy warned that Russell wants to extend its bauxite refining operations further and asked whether the Government will simply stand by and let that happen. He framed the current storage problems as a consequence of bauxite refining and raised concern about any further expansion of refining activity at the site.
Local campaigners and history
He recalled visiting the site almost 10 years earlier and meeting local campaigner Pat Gagan, noting the company's previous name and the long-standing local concern about the waste storage. The speech emphasized the scale of the site - large enough, he said, to be seen from space.
Regulatory and inspection demands
Murphy urged that the Environmental Protection Agency be allowed to carry out a full investigation and insisted that no rock blasting take place prior to inspection. He said environmental protection agencies exist to enforce strict laws governing industrial, mining and refining projects and called for rigorous adherence to those laws.
Next steps and follow-up
He told the Taoiseach he would refer his remarks to the EPA and seek a formal reply, framing the matter as one requiring immediate regulatory scrutiny and government accountability.
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Ceaseach, there is a toxic time bomb ticking at Russell Illumina near Askeaton. I remember visiting it when it was then Oganis Illumina almost 10 years ago, meeting local campaigner Pat Gagan, who I believe you met when you were Minister for Health. I saw this massive red mud storage area, which is now so big you can see it from space. 50 million tonnes of toxic waste, no lining, contrary to the planning permissions, and what is contained within it is uranium, lead, mercury and hazardous salt cake. It seeps into the estuary, it kills wildlife, and it threatens public health. It is a result of bauxite refining. But now Russell wants to extend that refining even further, and the question, Taoiseach, is whether the Government is just going to simply stand by and let it happen. At the very least, when you are at an investigation by the EPA, and ensure no rock blasting prior to inspection. First of all, there are environmental protection agencies there to protect the environment, and to ensure their adherence to strict laws governing industrial projects of this kind, and manufacturing entities, and mining entities, and refining entities. I will refer your remarks to the EPA, and will seek a reply from the EPA in relation to it. Thank you.
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