Vol. 456 No. 1
177 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the action he is taking in regard to widespread public concern at the Sellafield/THORP Nuclear Plant; and the plans, if any, he has to make any formal objection in the European context. [13599/95]
The Government has used, and continues to use, every opportunity at all appropriate international fora, in particular at the European Union level and the Paris Commission, as well as direct representations to the United Kingdom Government, to highlight its concerns about Sellafield and to object to THORP's commissioning. The Ministerial Committee on Sellafield and the Irish Sea was set up by the Government to progress the commitments in the Government's policy agreement, A Government of Renewal, including the question of seeking arbitration under the Paris Convention in relation to THORP. The committee is continuing to examine all possible avenues remaining open to the Government to remove the serious threat posed by the UK nuclear industry. This is the first comprehensive initiative taken by any Government to date to address the threats caused by Sellafield and other nuclear installations and it illustrates the Government's serious intent to pursue all realistic and effective courses of action to safeguard the Irish people.
