Irish Steel debacle - A welcome appointment

THE news that the Department of the Environment has appointed consultants to carry out an immediate risk assessment of the Irish Steel site is welcome, though it is difficult to understand why such expertise is not available within the department.

Last week we were assured that this is not a new story and that all that could be done was being done. This appointment suggests that was not the case. However, if it is evidence of a new-found and appropriate sense of urgency finally manifesting itself at government level let’s all celebrate. We all know the we need to do a lot more than commission a report. Let’s hope this is no more than a first step.