I thank the Department officials for attending and updating us on this difficult and protracted matter. When I sought the agreement of the committee to have this matter put on the agenda today, I had hoped we would be discussing the contents of the report to the Minister and his decision on the matter. I had also hoped we would be discussing the remediation plan for the tailings pond and the other former mine sites in the Silvermines area. For whatever reason, we have not yet reached that stage but I acknowledge the work done by the Department officials. I thank them for their perseverance and patience, particularly in what have occasionally been difficult discussions with Mogul Ireland, the company primarily responsible for the rehabilitation of a number of the mine sites in the area.
With the chairman's permission, I also note the support of Deputies Hoctor, Lowry and Michael Smith — who cannot be present today — and Senator Coonan. Their support has been important because this is an all-party issue. The support of the committee has also been important.
As Mr. Daly has pointed out, a political decision must now be made by the Minister. The matter has been progressed and I look forward to the Minister making the decision in the near future, despite the constraints on his time and the complex legal issues involved. There has been a long engagement between the Department and the community, involving the EPA, the county council, SRK and Mogul Ireland.
The final proposal put to all the parties by Mogul Ireland falls far short of a satisfactory solution to the pollution problem in Silvermines and far short of what could be adequately described as a rehabilitation plan for the area. It seems to constitute above all else a commercial proposal by Mogul Ireland to use the tailings pond as a dump for low-grade waste, to the extent that the company which Mogul has chosen to be involved, should it happen, is one with which North Tipperary County Council will not deal. This proposal has been rejected not only by the community but also by the council, which has effectively rubbished the plan. In effect, everyone, including the EPA and SRK, has a real difficulty with the proposal. I do not see how it can be proceeded with.
The next question is that of where an acceptable proposal might originate. I remind committee members that I have always got an assurance from the Department that nothing will be agreed or proceeded with without the agreement of the community. I asked Mr. Daly where the dialogue with Mogul Ireland now stands and he said it was completed. I am not sure how we can proceed today except by way of the update Mr. Daly has given us. I look forward to the Minister's decision and reiterate that the latest proposal on the table falls far short of an acceptable solution.
I do not need to remind anyone of the backdrop with which we are dealing. Since the 1980s, the community has lived with a serious pollution problem at the heart of which lies not only the responsibility of the company — because not all the mine sites are the responsibility of Mogul Ireland — but also an accountability issue. Who is accountable? Who is responsible for ensuring that this area will be rehabilitated? We need further progress on this, although I acknowledge the progress already made.
We have arrived at the point where a report is on the Minister's desk and the issue is now a political call. We need to give the Minister time to make that call. If possible, I ask that the officials return and that we have the discussion I hoped we would have today in terms of how we are to move towards implementation. Perhaps Mr. Daly could expand a little on his statement that the dialogue with Mogul Ireland is completed. Presumably the technical dialogue is completed but there seems to be some legal framework uncompleted.