Toxic island: where does the buck stop?

NOW that Environment Minister John Gormley has joined with the various State bodies in playing ‘pass the parcel’ over responsibility for the toxic and hazardous waste dumped at Haulbowline in Cork harbour, perhaps it would be an appropriate time to ask who sanctioned this dumping?

One assumes that a landfill permit existed for the disposal of this waste on the island. In these days of ‘best environmental practice’, it beggars belief that anyone could possibly have disposed of half a million tonnes of toxic waste undetected under the watchful eye of the Environmental Protection Agency, Cork County Council, the Health and Safety Authority, etc, etc.

If, however, it turns out that such an appalling scenario is what actually transpired, who can we rely on to ensure that the full rigours of the law will be applied where appropriate?