Vol. 437 No. 1
108 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the action, if any, the Government has taken in connection with the activity of British Nuclear Fuels and UK authorities regarding their nuclear industry and the effect this industry may have on the health and welfare of the Irish public; the progress, if any, that has been made; the other options that are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Government has consistently conveyed to the UK authorities at every opportunity its serious concerns about safety aspects of Britain's nuclear industry. In particular, there has been persistent opposition to the continued operation and expansion of nuclear reprocessing activities at Sellafield. Two detailed submissions were forwarded to London by the Government during 1993 calling for a halt to reprocessing and the closure of the Sellafield plant, including THORP, and the safe management and storage of stocks of nuclear waste materials at the plant.
There have also been continuous representations over the years about radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea. Arising from pressure from many quarters including the Irish Government, British Nuclear Fuels have reduced their emissions significantly since the early eighties and this has resulted in a slow decline in contamination levels monitored by the National Radiological Protection Institute. The Government's aim of course is to have such discharges minimised as much as possible and ultimately eliminated. In this connection, at the OSLO/PARIS Convention meeting on the Prevention of Marine Pollution in June this year, an Irish recommendation was adopted agreeing to adopt further measures, including the application of best available techniques, for the reduction or elimination of marine radioactive discharges. In relation to planned discharges at THORP, the recommendation also called for more information on its justification, an environmental impact assessment and the use of best available techniques before an authorisation was given.
In November 1993, the Government supported a total ban on radioactive waste dumping at sea. This has implications for the UK nuclear industry as they have an upcoming problem with the disposal of decommissioned nuclear plant and nuclear powered submarines.
