Seán Barrett
Question:23 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Energy if he will seek to have an environmental inspection force included in the Convention on Nuclear Safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Convention on Nuclear Safety.
A proposal to establish an International Convention on Nuclear Safety was one of the principal recommendations to emerge from a Conference on Nuclear Safety held under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna in September 1991. The broad objective of such a convention would be to promote the adoption of legally binding safety standards throughout the nuclear industry. The Government welcomes this proposal and fully supports it.
The board of governors of the Vienna agency discussed this initiative last month and as a result a working group will immediately begin drawing up the details and structures of such an international convention.
I will, of course, seek to have provision for independent verification by an inspection force included in the proposed convention. Ireland has been seeking the establishment of an independent nuclear inspection force for some time and has raised this matter repeatedly at international, especially EC, level. I see verification and inspection as being essential to the effective implementation of any international convention in the nuclear safety area.