Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 3

Written Answers. - Radioactive Materials Storage.

Bernard Allen

Question:

279 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his proposals in relation to the storing by Irish hospitals of the cores of radioactive generators as they have nowhere to dispose of them, which was highlighted recently by the Nuclear Energy Board.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The disposal of radioactive waste is subject to control by licence under the Nuclear Energy, (General Control of Fissile Fuels, Radioactive Substances and Irradiating Apparatus) Order 1977, S.I. No. 166 of 1977.

Matters relating to radioactivity are the responsibility of the Minister for Energy and the competent authority in this instance is the Nuclear Energy Board.

The Nuclear Energy Board are at present carrying out an examination of the quantities of radioactive material being stored in Irish hospitals. It is understood that it will be a few months before this examination has been completed.

At present this material is kept in secure storage by the hospitals and I understand that this method of storage has been used safely for the past 20 years.