Recovery efforts continuing following gas oil spill in Cork 

Recovery efforts are continuing following a gas oil spill in Cork. 

Irving Oil said that it detected a release of gas oil at its Whitegate refinery on Monday, with containment efforts beginning immediately. 

In a statement, the company said it continues to work with external authorities and remediation specialists on recovery efforts in all impacted areas around its refinery.

"This work includes boom equipment and absorbent material to collect product, continual site monitoring and surveying by our employees and external agencies, including ecologists we have retained to ensure the safety and protection of potentially impacted flora and wildlife," it said. 

The company added: "We value the relationships we have with our communities, and the environment in which we operate, and we appreciate the work of all involved. 

"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and impact this matter has caused our neighbours."

EPA investigating 

The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed it was notified of a spill of gas oil by Irving Oil Ltd. 

In an update on its website, it said that an inspection at 9am on the morning of January 22 discovered that gas oil had leaked from a small gauge pipe onto a marshy area below it and then into Cork Harbour.

"A spill response team was mobilised by the operator and the leak was contained by 1pm. The damaged equipment was repaired at 7pm on Monday evening," the EPA statement said.

The team also began attempts to recover oil from the marshy area and to minimise the extent of impact to the harbour, beaches and surrounding areas, including by means of containment booms.

"On the morning of Tuesday 23rd January, the operator reported that the spill response team is continuing to carry out cleanup operations and are assessing impacts to the shoreline, waterbody and local ecology as a result of the spill," the statement continued.

"EPA staff are on site to investigate the incident and to ensure that appropriate corrective actions are put in place to limit the impact of the spill.

"Additional information will be provided on the EPA website as further updates are received, and a full site inspection report published when available.

"Once our investigations are completed, the EPA will consider further enforcement action in line with our Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

"Members of the public are advised not to use the shoreline in the vicinity of Irving Oil until the clean-up has been completed."