Cancer survey - State refusal is an outrage

The cancer rate in the area around Haulbowline is 44% higher than the norm for the rest of the country, but Health Minister Mary Harney has announced that it is not intended “to conduct a baseline health survey for the Cork harbour regions”.

Two years ago, after 500,000 tons of toxic waste was found on the 20-acre island in Cork Harbour Environment Minister John Gormley promised to recommend a full baseline health study of the harbour area. Chromium 6, a lethal carcinogenic, was found in material was shipped to Germany from the dump.

Mr Gormley now insists no investigation is necessary, as air monitoring indicates that there is no identifiable risk to residents. This is just another broken promise by the Government. Is there no end to the deception?

There should be an urgent health study to identify the cause of the high incidence of cancer.

The attitude adopted by the Health Minister is not only an affront to the people of the area but also an insult to the rest of the country. It is an outrage that serious efforts are not undertaken to identify the cause of the higher rates of cancer in the area.