Michael Creed
Question:177 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Energy whether the introduction into full operation of the THORP project will increase the level of discharges of waste into the Irish Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Sellafield Waste Discharges.
When the Thermal Oxide reprocessing Plant (THORP) currently under construction at Sellafield is operational there will be an increase in discharges from Sellafield.
Further reductions in discharges from existing installations at Sellafield are planned, and will offset to a small extent the increase from THORP. The discharges from THORP will be subject to scrutiny by the EC under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty and BNFL cannot make their final arrangements for discharges until they have received the Commission's opinion under Article 37 after consultation with a Committee of experts drawn from the member states.
In a resolution adopted by the member states of the Paris Commission, the UK and all other member states agreed to apply the best available technology to minimise and, as appropriate, eliminate any pollution caused by radioactive discharges from all nuclear industries, including reprocessing plants, into the marine environment. The Irish Government will press to ensure that this principle is applied to the THORP discharges. The policy of the Irish Government is that it is opposed to the existence of any risk from discharges from Sellafield, and for that reason have sought and will continue to seek its closure. The Irish Government has also expressed to the UK Government its opposition to the expansion of the UK nuclear industry, particularly at Sellafield, or indeed anywhere along the west coast of Britain.