Farmers' call for tailings pond inquiry criticised

Aughinish Alumina has criticised a letter sent from a farmers' group to an Oireachtas committee, seeking an investigation of a tailings pond on the factory site.

The Limerick-based company said the letter to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Marine and Natural Resources was "grossly inaccurate in a number of respects".

The Cappagh Farmers' Support Group wrote to the committee earlier this week, asking them to visit the site near Askeaton.

The group said it had health fears about the red mud pond, and added that people had been complaining about the red dust coming on to their property for "many years".

However, a statement from Aughinish Alumina said the company had "nothing to fear from a debate on its corporate practices and policies".

Yesterday, a spokesman for the committee said the members would consider the request when they meet next month.