asked the Minister for Industry and Energy whether he has taken any decision in regard to revoking prospecting licences for uranium exploration in County Donegal in view of the public alarm in regard to resulting health hazards there; and whether, in view of our neutrality, he is satisfied that such exploration work is justified in view of the fact that we cannot ensure that potential future exports of uranium ore from Ireland would not find their way into the manufacture of nuclear armaments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Uranium Exploration.
9.
The firm and consistent advice of the Nuclear Energy Board, the statutory body concerned with radiation safety, is that there is no evidence that prospecting operations associated with exploration for uranium lead to any radiation hazard. In the circumstances I do not consider that the revocation of prospecting licences for uranium prospecting in County Donegal would be warranted.
If an economically workable deposit of uranium were discovered in Ireland it would be my intention to ensure that any uranium that might be exported would be used for peaceful purposes. Certain legal powers already exist to control the movement of uranium and, if there were uranium exports at any stage in the future, the adequacy of these powers would be kept under close scrutiny; if any extension of these powers were judged to be desirable, the necessary measures would be taken.