asked the Minister for Energy the proposals, if any, he has to introduce legislation to abolish the Nuclear Energy Board and replace it with a Radiological Protection Institute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nuclear Energy Board Replacement.
11.
Proposals for the scheme of a Bill to replace the Nuclear Energy Board with a National Radiological Protection Institute have been prepared in my Department. I intend to introduce the Bill during the current session of the Oireachtas.
Would the Minister outline to the House the main differences between the Nuclear Energy Board and this new Radiological Protection Institute?
Without going into the detail of it, because it would not be proper to do so in advance of the publication of the Bill, my main aim is that it will have functions which will place far more emphasis on the Institute's role in the protection of the public against the dangers of radiation, including naturally occurring radiation. The Nuclear Energy Board was established at a time when the State was considering construction of a nuclear power station at Carnsore and it was considered that the board would carry out a licensing and controlling role in relation to the design, construction, commission, operation and de-commissioning of any nuclear power station in Ireland. The Government, and various Governments, have decided in the last couple of years that the nuclear road is not one we want to follow for electricity generation. So it is appropriate to look at the whole remit of the NEB as it was at that time. That is the intention, to put a greater emphasis on safety rather than monitoring.
What amount of money has been allocated in the Estimates of the Minister's Department for the Radiological Protection Institute for 1988?
The money that is indicated is in the Vote of the NEB and it would be roughly the same amount of money.
In view of the Minister's statement about the new thrust that he is giving to the Radiological Protection Institute, would he not agree that it would be more appropriate that this institute should be under the aegis of the Department of Health, as this is essentially a public health concern?
The Government have decided that nuclear matters generally and nuclear pollution would be dealt with by me and the Minister for the Environment.
Surely the logic of shifting the emphasis to public health would be that the Department of Health is the right place to deal with it.
The Government seem satisfied with the performance of the person that is dealing with it at the moment.
The public might have a different view.
Will it also be the duty of the proposed national radiological protection institute to develop a national emergency plan to be put into operation here in the event of a nuclear accident abroad? I presume the Minister is not satisfied that that capacity exists and I should like him to confirm that that will be one of the functions of the new board.
The plan, which is practically ready, will be submitted to the Government shortly. I have included in the Estimate of the Department an initial figure of £250,000 for the start-up on that plan. I should point out that the plan arose out of the actions taken by my predecessor following the Chernobyl accident when a committee consisting of representatives of Departments and agencies of the State was established with the intention of preparing such a plan.