Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 4

Written Answers. - Chernobyl Nuclear Plant.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

70 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made representations to members of the G7 regarding the closure or decommissioning of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, in view of the reports that Ukrainian authorities are unable, or unwilling, to proceed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19237/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Ireland's nuclear policy objectives place a heavy emphasis on nuclear safety and radiological protection. At every opportunity we have conveyed our serious concern about the risks inherent in nuclear power at EU level, at the International Atomic Energy Agency, at the Nuclear Energy Agency of the OECD and at other international fora. In the context of the European Union, four of our partners, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, are members of the G7. In addition, the European Commission, in the person of the President of the Commission, participates in meetings of the G7.

With regard to Chernobyl, Ireland has participated fully in the work of the European Union in seeking to address the consequences of the nuclear accident there in 1986 and in seeking to ensure the early closure of the plant. The European Council at Corfu in June, 1994 recommended that the Chernobyl plant be closed definitively and as early as possible. The European Union also proposed, in co-operation with the G7, an action plan providing for closure of the plant. A memorandum of understanding was signed on 20 December 1995 which commits the G7, the EU and the Ukraine to work jointly towards the closure of Chernobyl by the year 2000 and the G7 and the EU have pledged funds to assist in the closure.

The European Union is committed to developing its relations with the Ukraine and a partnership and co-operation agreement was signed with that country in 1994. The Union's relations with the Ukraine, including the issue of nuclear safety, are discussed regularly within Council fora. In the context of these discussions Ireland has, in contributing to the formulation of the Union's policy with regard to the Ukraine, placed a high degree of emphasis on the nuclear safety issue. I am satisfied that all our partners, including those whom I have mentioned earlier, are fully aware of our position.

At the summit meeting on nuclear safety and security held in Moscow in April this year, the participants, who included the G7 leaders, and Commission President Santer and President Yeltsin, discussed the question of the closure of Chernobyl with the President of the Ukraine, Mr. Kuchma. The importance of President Kuchma's decision to close Chernobyl by the year 2000 in accordance with the memorandum of understanding was recognised.

In the context of our Presidency of the European Union we have, wherever possible, impressed on our partners, including of course those who are members of the G7, our views on the need to ensure closure of Chernobyl. In New York last month, in the course of the EU-Ukraine Ministerial Troika, I had the opportunity to put forward to Foreign Minister Udovenko of the Ukraine, the position of the European Union on the issue of nuclear safety. My colleagues at that meeting were, of course, the Foreign Minister of Italy and the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands. I am pleased to report that Foreign Minister Udovenko reaffirmed the Ukraine's commitment to close Chernobyl by the year 2000.

We shall continue to ensure that our views on this most important of issues are understood by our EU partners, by the authorities in the Ukraine and by the international community generally.