Nuala Fennell
Question:64 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Energy whether increased support was obtained for Ireland's proposal to close down Sellafield at this year's Paris Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Sellafield Nuclear Plant.
Experience at Paris Commission meetings over the last few years has shown that, although there is widespread sympathy for Ireland's position in relation to Sellafield, very few countries will support a specific recommendation for its closure. However, the Irish delegation to the recent Paris Commission meeting in Iceland reiterated Ireland's concern about Sellafield and nuclear reprocessing in general.
I am pleased that considerable progress as regards radioactive discharges has been made at recent Paris Commission meetings, and this will, of course affect the operation of Sellafield. Since 1988 the contracting parties to the Paris Convention must apply best available technology to reduce and eliminate radioactive discharges from nuclear installations. Based on an Irish recommendation, this year's meeting agreed that the contracting parties would report to the 1991 Commission meeting and regularly every four years thereafter on progress in applying their undertakings on radioactive discharges.
Another significant achievement at the meeting was agreement on a process of consultation on new projects between participating states. In future where two states share a body of water, they must co-operate to prevent new projects having significant adverse effects. This would affect plans to build any type of project including nuclear installations and reprocessing plants which had an environmental effect on the waters in question.