Vol. 447 No. 11
268 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will make public funds available to fund a legal challenge against the THORP expansion at Sellafield to the four plaintiffs from County Louth who have initiated the challenge. [1265/95]
273 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications in view of the commitment in the Programme for a Government of Renewal regarding Sellafield/Thorp, if he will give a commitment to back the four litigants who have taken a high court action against BNFL regarding Thorp; if he will indemnify them for their costs and expenses arising out of this action in view of the fact that this action is in effect being taken on behalf of the general public in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1400/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 273 together.
In the proceedings brought by the four litigants in question, judgement in the High Court is awaited concerning an application by British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) to have service of those proceedings on them set aside. If service of the proceedings on BNFL were to be set aside by the High Court this would effectively put an end to the proceedings against BNFL. The request that the plaintiffs should be indemnified by the State in respect of their costs of pursuing the proceedings raises some substantial issues in any event, but it is considered appropriate in the circumstances to await the judgment of the High Court before reaching a decision, one way or the other, upon that request.
