The former coalminers of Castlecomer, under the auspicies of The National Coal Miners Group (NMG ), have called for the establishment of a compensation tribunal for persons who have suffered injury as a result of their exposure to coal dust particles in the course of their work as coal miners.
The group met in Portlaoise on Saturday where they outlined their plight to members of the Oireachtas.
There are still many men who are former miners living in Castlecomer, who spent their youth working in the dangerous conditions of the coalmines and there are up to 500 coalminers nationwide who are potential claimants in any future compensation tribunal.
“There is a moral, as well as a legal case for compensation for people who ensured this country was self-sufficient in energy resources, who worked in some of the most challenging work environments known to man, who paid a massive price in respect of their health, and who in some cases gave their lives” stated Gerry O’Connell, spokesperson for NMG.
Over the last four to five decades, coal miners in Ireland have suffered from a high incidence of cardiovascular disease, a lower life expectancy than the national average, serious financial hardship and inequitable treatment within the social welfare system.
North Kilkenny councillor Maurice Shortall attended the meeting on Saturday in Portlaoise where the Junior Minister John Maloney was briefed on the case to date.
Cllr Shortall said a twin strategy has now been adopted.
“The Oireachtas members at the meeting will arrange for a delegation to meet with the Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan. It is also planned to place a couple of test cases with the Irish High Court.”
Local miners who participated on Saturday, included Michael Brennan (Roe ), Castlecomer, Peter Kealy, Crettyard, John Clinton, Doonane and Seamus Walsh, Castlecomer. A list of surviving miners from the Deerpark, Rossmore, Slatt, Ballingarry and Arigna Collieries has now being complied, there is a minimum of 470 people involved.”
Cllr Shortall is delighted with the cross-party support for the miners.
“Ultimately the goal is to establish a Statutory Compensation Tribunal to address what was probably the worst industrial scandal in the history of the State.
A decision was taken to initiate a legal evaluation of the merits of taking a test case before the High Court in order to establish State Liability for injuries and loss suffered by former coal miners.
The establishment of a Compensation Tribunal has been put forward as the only adequate solution to the question of settling this issue once and for all. In the UK, the British Government established a compensation tribunal for ex-coal miners in 2000. The success of the scheme can be gauged by the fact that over 90 per cent of UK miners chose the tribunal route in order to settle claims rather than getting involved in litigation through the courts.
