Vol. 462 No. 5
38 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the assurances, if any, he has received to date from the United Kingdom authorities regarding their plans for the eventual decommissioning of Magnox reactors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4958/96]
46 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications whether he has received the RPII assessment of the United Kingdom's Minister for Industry and Energy's response to his representations following an incident at Wylfa, Wales, referred to in an Adjournment Debate of 20 September 1995; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4980/96]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 38 and 46 together. The incident at the Wylfa Magnox nuclear plant which the Deputy refers to occurred in June, 1993. In my contribution to the Adjournment Debate of 20 September 1995 I set out the circumstances and extent of the incident. I also expressed my concerns about the safety and reliability of ageing Magnox reactors in general and on the adequacy of safety in the UK's nuclear industry generally, particularly in the light of the upcoming privatisation.
On 29 September 1995, the UK Minister of Industry and Energy replied to my letter of 19 September on foot of the Wylfa incident. The Minister pointed out that for the UK Government and for all those involved in the nuclear industry, safety was the highest priority. He also pointed out that all UK nuclear power stations, including Magnox stations, were subject to a stringent licensing regime operated by the independent regulator, the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate-NII. The Minister said that he was satisfied that, subject to these stations continuing to give satisfactory results for the NII in routine tests and inspections and in periodic safety reviews, the Magnox stations should continue to operate.
I responded on 14 November 1995 and raised a number of technical issues, advised to me by the Radiological Protection of Ireland (RPII) which, I maintained, rendered Magnox reactors considerably less safe than modern reactors. In his reply of 24 November, the UK Minister contended that my concerns about the safety of Magnox reactors were unfounded and he repeated that the continued operation of the reactors had the approval of the independent Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII). Notwithstanding these assurances, I remain unconvinced about the safety aspects of Magnox reactors. My concerns are based on the technical advice which I have obtained from the RPII and I have asked the institute to pursue these concerns directly with the NII and to report back to me.
