Seamus Brennan
Question:178 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the Government's policy regarding allegations of the passage of ships carrying nuclear weaponry through the Irish Sea. [13600/95]
Written Answers. - Transport of Nuclear Weaponry.
I share fully the Deputy's concerns in this matter.
My concerns with allegations of the movement of nuclear warheads through the Irish Sea are threefold. The transport of such materials through the Irish Sea which is a narrow, semi-enclosed sea with densely populated areas in its environs, poses a serious threat to the safety of people living in these areas and to the marine environment generally. The extent and nature of the risks posed by such transport demand advance notification of the transiting of ships carrying nuclear warheads or other hazardous materials so that "early warning" systems can be put in place to deal with possible marine emergencies in the event of an accident or collision. The increasing traffic in the Irish Sea shipping lane is also a concern because of the increased possibility of accidents.
It is a firm objective of Government policy to bring about a situation wherby it will no longer be possible for nuclear weapons and nuclear materials to be transported through the Irish Sea. The Government is pursuing this objective through all available avenues. It will be appreciated that these matters are regulated by international conventions and in order to achieve our objective we need to get the support of other Contracting Parties to those Conventions.
On the specific matter of the transportation of nuclear weapons we have taken a very strong line. We have written to the UK authorities informing them that the recent reports on the movement of nuclear weapons by the military through the Irish Sea are a matter of serious public concern in Ireland and that such movements present difficulties for the Irish Government.
The initial response from the UK is that they no longer deploy nuclear weapons on board Her Majesty's ships but that such weapons may be transported by sea. They further state that shipments do not take place outside UK territorial waters, that safety is of paramount importance wherever nuclear weapons are concerned and that it is long standing policy of UK Government neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at particular times and locations.
Warships, naval auxiliaries or other ships owned and operated by a State and used solely on that State's non-commercial service are normally exempt from international conventions regulating marine transport, maritime safety and protection of the marine environment. However, contracting States to those conventions are asked to ensure that exempted ships act in a manner consistent, as far as is reasonable and practicable, with the international conventions.
Under existing international law warships have a right of innocent passage without notification through the territorial waters of any State. Entry of foreign warships into Irish ports is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Pending enactment of future international law it is Government policy to refuse entry if the vessel is carrying nuclear weapons or the visit is part of a naval exercise.
As regards non-military nuclear materials, concerns of small island developing States and other coastal states world wide, with regard to the transportation of nuclear materials between Japan and the UK and France, led to the adoption in 1993 of the IMO Code on the Safe Carriage of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High Level Radioactive Wastes in Flasks on Board Ships (the INF Code). The Code lays down standards for construction, equipment and operation of ships engaged in the carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high level radioactive wastes.
Ireland has consistently argued for the following additional requirements to be included in the INF Code:
— reporting arrangements;
— consultation with coastal states;
— routeing restrictions/passage planning;
— marine emergency response plans;
— salvage arrangements in the event of an accident.
A representative of my Department raised Ireland's concerns on the issue at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meeting in London last week. The Secretary General of the IMO and a number of countries at the MEPC have supported Ireland's view and as a result a special meeting under the aegis of the IMO is being set up to progress the expansion of the INF Code.
On 13 September 1995 an EU Directive concerning reporting arrangements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods (HAZMAT) came into force. Ireland has requested that the definition of "Dangerous Goods" be expanded to include substances coming under the INF Code. The EU Commission has agreed to put Ireland's proposal on the agenda of the next Commission meeting and to submit a proposal for amending the Directive to incorporate the Code to Parliament and Council.
The above steps represent our minimum requirements, given the prospect of continuing traffic on the high seas of radioactive materials. As you are no doubt aware, this Government is opposed to the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and are seeking the closure of the Sellafield/Thorp plant and the halting of any future expansion there. An interdepartmental committee on the Irish Sea has been established in order to progress Government policy on Sellafield and the Irish Sea in line with the commitments given in the Government of Renewal policy document.