I am, of course, aware of the worldwide concern that many of the nuclear power reactors in operation in the Commonwealth of Independent States do not meet international safety standards. I am informed that the authorities in these countries have completed modifications to the design of some of these reactors, that improved operational procedures have been put into effect and that other improvements have also taken place to increase safety and reliability. These improvements and ongoing work in co-operation with Western countries and with international agencies in the nuclear field reduce the risk of another accident of the Chernobyl type.
The European Community has been active along with other relevant international agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency in the area of nuclear safety in the former Soviet Union, and Ireland is participating in ongoing nuclear safety discussions in those fora. I welcome the fact that financial and technical assistance has been allocated by the European Community to reinforce the nuclear safety authorities in those countries, to strengthen co-operation at plant level and to perform safety reviews and implement internationally-agreed safety recommendations. Ireland strongly supports the concept that nuclear safety should be an integral part of economic co-operation agreements between the Community and the CIF states.
In the context of the European Energy Charter, which all members of the Commonwealth are expected to sign, Ireland is pressing for the maximum emphasis on nuclear safety in the protocol on nuclear energy, which is currently being negotiated. The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development in its recent energy policy document indicated readiness to assist with the rehabilitation of existing nuclear power stations. Bank participation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, however, having regard to the situation that the safety of existing stations varies considerably.
