asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the measures his Department are taking to monitor leakages from the Windscale plant; if he feels such leakages are a matter for public concern in this country; and the negotiations that he or his Department have had with the responsible member of Government and Department in Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Windscale Plant Leakages.
16.
The Nuclear Energy Board have a formal agreement with the UK nuclear regulatory authority for the rapid exchange of information on radiation safety matters associated with nuclear installations. Under this arrangement the board are in regular contact with the UK Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and were fully informed about the recent leakages from the Windscale plant.
In addition, the board have an ongoing programme for monitoring the environment by sampling water including sea-water from the Irish Sea, fish, air and rainfall.
The Nuclear Energy Board have advised me that the leakages which have taken place from Windscale recently do not constitute a health hazard for people resident in this country.
Neither I nor my Department have had any recent negotiations on this subject with the corresponding Minister and Department in Britain.
Could the Minister of State tell me how close to the nuclear plant is the monitoring to which he referred in the answer?
It is in the Irish Sea. It would include sea-water from the Irish Sea and also the monitoring of fish, air and rainfall near the Irish coastline.
The Irish Sea could be two miles outside Dublin harbour. What is the proximity?
I will ask for further information for the Deputy and I will communicate with him.
We are all a bit alarmed to read that the latest leakage, the very serious one at Windscale, was not notified to landowners in the vicinity, particularly dairy farmers selling milk to the public. The Minister of State in his reply stated that his counterpart in the British Government informed us of the leakage. Was it before or after the general public in Britain were informed?
The Nuclear Energy Board received information from the UK Nuclear Installations Inspectorate informing us of the leakage. I do not know if the public knew of it at that stage. I would, however, like to point out that the UK Nuclear Installations Inspectorate did not feel it necessary to recommend a ban on the use of milk so obviously the emission was minimal.
Would the Minsiter of State not agree that because of the size of the operation at Windscale and its potential danger to our citizens, particularly on the east coast, our Nuclear Energy Board should have formal investigation powers to visit the Windscale plant?
The Deputy can be assured that the Nuclear Energy Board are very active in their contact with the UK Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and whatever steps need to be taken will be taken.
Does the Minister of State feel that the Irish Nuclear Energy Board should have direct investigation powers in Windscale because of the scale of that operation and the danger to our east coast rather than merely depending on the British investigation?
I am quite satisfied that the powers which the Nuclear Energy Board have at present are sufficient for the purpose of monitoring radioactivity in and around the Irish coast and I do not see need for any further powers.