asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry the steps he is taking to protect the image of fish caught in the Irish Sea in view of the widespread fear of radiation contamination arising from pollution from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Sea Radiation Levels.
18.
I assure the Deputy that I am also concerned at the recent adverse publicity regarding fish caught in the Irish sea and I have taken up the matter with An Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Although I am not the Minister responsible for public health matters, I would like to take this opportunity to stress that the information available to me suggests that the radiation levels as monitored in the Irish Sea do not give cause for concern regarding the consumption of fish.
Can the Minister indicate what steps his Department have taken to protect the markets by insisting that the discharges from Sellafield should stop so as the reduce the contamination level in the Irish Sea?
Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Energy Board are constantly in contact. As I have already stated fish caught in the Irish Sea do not contain radiation levels. In the opinion of these bodies it is not a cause for concern to anybody who consumes this fish.
The Minister must be aware that there is a contrary view that there is no such thing as a safe level. Could he indicate what steps are taken by his Department or by Bord Iascaigh Mhara to monitor fish landings on a regular basis and what publicity is given to the results of such monitoring?
This is constantly being monitored. A recent report published by the Nuclear Energy Board clearly showed that the average fish eater in Ireland is in no danger whatsoever from fish caught in the Irish Sea.
Have the Minister and the Minister of State had any communication with their counterparts in the UK? I am sure the Minister is aware that UK fishermen are deeply concerned about this issue also. Has the Minister raised this with the council in Brussels?
We did not get an opportunity to raise it with the council in Brussels but I am sure it will be raised in the not too distant future. The only communication I have had from the UK Minister for Fisheries was a letter of congratulations on my appointment.