asked the Minister for Energy the systems which are in place to give early warning of an accidental radiation release; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Accidental Radiation Release Warning.
24.
Following the Chernobyl accident, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed a Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident. The Convention provides for notification of the IAEA in the event of an accident which has resulted, or may result in a transboundary release which could be of radiological significance, and has been signed by 70 States including Ireland. The IAEA has procedures in place to notify first affected States and then all States. The EC acceded to the IAEA Convention, and also set up a separate Community system of rapid exchange of information in cases of abnormal levels of radioactivity or of a nuclear accident. An effective bilateral arrangement in respect of incidents in the UK also operates independently of the foregoing. These are the main international arrangements which ensure that we will have early warning of an accidental release.
In addition to these arrangements, the national emergency plan for radiological emergencies provides for a national gamma dose rate monitoring system which will give immediate warning of any abnormal rise in radiation levels. This consists of a series of monitors whose measurements will be transmitted to new computers which have been installed at the Nuclear Energy Board. This system will be fully operational in a few months.