asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has sought urgent clarification from the British Government on the reported intentions of the British Ministry of Defence to dump military grade plutonium in the Atlantic dumping site (400 miles off the south-west coast of Ireland) in breach of international government regulations; and if he will make a statement on the representations he has made to the British Government on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Plutonium Dumping.
14.
The Irish Nuclear Energy Board, who are the advisers to the Government on nuclear matters, have advised me that there are no such plans by the British authorities to dump plutonium in the North Atlantic dump site.
Is the Minister aware of reports in The Guardian of 2 September 1983 and 14 September 1983 which clearly indicated that the British Minister of Defence wanted to dump military grade plutonium in the dumping site 350 miles off our coast? Does he not agree that dumping the noxious by-products of a nuclear weapons arsenal off our shores is totally unacceptable to the Irish people?
With regard to the latter part of the question, I do, but the reports were incorrect in that regard. They may have wanted to but they have no intention of doing it. I do not know if that is accurate. The Nuclear Energy Board who are advisers to the Government took this matter up with the British authorities and we are assured there was not dumping going on and would not go on.
Am I right in interpreting the Minister that he is saying that he is absolutely satisfied that there is not likely to be any dumping of this material I mentioned 350 miles off our coast, or does the Minister feel that it would be necessary for him at ministerial level to raise the matter with his opposite number?
If I thought it was necessary to do that I would certainly do it. I am satisfied, as a result of the investigations made by the Nuclear Energy Board, that there are no plans at the moment to dump plutonium in that site. If I thought it was necessary to raise it I would, of course, raise it.