Vol. 470 No. 8
2 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's position on the proposal to hold military exercises in deserted villages in Belarus; and whether Ireland intends to use its influence as President of the EU to ensure EU assistance in the full-scale decontamination of areas still devastated by the Chernobyl explosion in 1986. [20074/96]
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 45 on 23 October last.
On my instructions, the Irish Ambassador to Belarus has been in contact with the Belarussian authorities regarding the media reports of possible military exercises in the region close to where the Chernobyl accident occurred and to express our serious concern at the potential ecological dangers in any such activities. The Belarussian authorities indicated that no decisions had been taken regarding such exercises although the idea had been mooted. As I indicated in my earlier reply, if it is decided to proceed with such activities, this would be a matter of serious concern to Ireland and other countries in Europe. The Belarussian Ambassador to Ireland, who was in Dublin yesterday, was informed of my concern. We are also in contact with EU partners on the issue.
With regard to EU assistance for the areas affected by the Chernobyl accident, the European Union has been to the forefront of the international effort to address the consequences of the disaster which occurred there ten years ago. The disaster at Chernobyl had consequences far beyond the immediate contamination of the surrounding region and seriously affected the local population. Today, as for many years to come, the site will need continual attention to ensure safe shutdown of the nuclear power plant, treatment and disposal of nuclear waste as well as clearing of the site. However, the immediate priority is to ensure that the remaining plants at Chernobyl are closed down and that the damaged reactor is entombed permanently.
In 1992 the European Commission initiated an agreement with Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus to carry out a number of collaboration projects which aim to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of large scale radioactive pollution of the environment and quantifying the impact on the health of the public concerned.
Under the TACIS programme of technical assistance for the countries of the former Soviet Union, the EU has been active in promoting a comprehensive programme of financial, technical and practical support to aid the rehabilitation and decontamination of the areas most affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland was involved in a project which is funded under TACIS entitled Food Quality and Technical Support for Chernobyl Affected Areas in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. European Community Humanitarian Aid has also been sent to Belarus and Ukraine.
In 1994 the EU's concerns about nuclear safety in the Ukraine led it to propose, in co-operation with its partners in the G7, an action plan to be agreed with Ukraine for (i) the definitive closure of Chernobyl as soon as possible; (ii) the reform of Ukraine's energy sector including the development of alternative energy sources; (iii) the upgrading of construction and operating standards in its nuclear sub-sector; and (iv) ratification by Ukraine of the Vienna Convention on nuclear liability. The plan involves financial effort from the international financial institutions, with the EU for its part willing to raise 500 MECU in EURATOM loans and TACIS grants.
On 20 December 1995 the "Memorandum of Understanding on the closure of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plants was signed by the G7 and Ukraine. The MoU is a political agreement which commits the G7 and Ukraine to work jointly towards the closure of Chernobyl by the year 2000. Much of the MoU focuses on replacing Chernobyl as a source of power and generally improving the provision and use of energy in the Ukraine. The MoU covers four main areas of future work: restructuring of the power sector; an energy investment programme which is principally concerned with replacing Chernobyl as a power source; decommissioning of Chernobyl's reactors 1 and 2; and the social costs not only of the disaster itself, but also of the closure of Chernobyl. The MoU includes a list of projects to be prepared and implemented over the coming years.
There has been progress. At the meeting in Moscow on nuclear safety, on 20 April this year, President Kuchma of Ukraine confirmed that the Chernobyl plant would be shut down completely by the year 2000. I have referred above to the provision of the EU action plan which sought ratification by Ukraine of the Vienna Convention on nuclear liability. I am pleased to advise that Ukraine lodged the instruments of ratification to the Convention on 19 September this year. At the follow-up meeting to the Memorandum of Understanding, held in Paris on 11 October, it was generally acknowledged that the implementation of the MoU is well under way and that all parties feel committed to its full success.
The Union is also aware of the serious situation arising from the contamination of land as a result of the accident. While the emphasis in the Union's efforts is being placed on the immediate need to ensure closure of Chernobyl, the making safe of the destroyed reactor, and the accompanying measures to ensure safety in the nuclear sector in Ukraine, the Union has also made a financial allocation to help deal with the problem of waste treatment in the 30 km zone around Chernobyl. In addition the Union initiated, in 1993, the Chernobyl Remedial Programme to assist the local population in recovering from the effects of the accident. The programme, which is supported under the TACIS programme of technical assistance for the countries of the former Soviet Union, provides for assistance in relation to drugs, iodised salt, abstraction of ground water, local economic recovery efforts and the housing of Chernobyl evacuees.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. Is he aware that radiation levels in the exclusion zone have increased due to several forest and bush fires and recent accidents at and continuing emissions from the deteriorating sarcophagus at the Chernobyl plant? Is he also aware that the death rate among children in the Gomel area is now estimated to be 15 per 1,000? Leaving aside the proposed military exercises, the situation is deteriorating. What action can the European Union specifically take to help children in the area?
I am aware of these reports. The damaged reactor was discussed at the recent meeting in Paris in the context of the follow up to the memorandum of understanding on which I was elaborating and at the meeting of the G7. The view, shared by international and Ukrainian experts, was that the issue of fuel within the damaged reactor should be addressed in the project conclusions. The question of decontamination has also to be addressed but the immediate priorities are the closure of the plant and ensuring there is not another disaster.
Assistance has been offered, both on a bilateral basis and from the European Union, to help the children most affected by the disaster. In 1995 the Government disbursed a total of £150,000 for medical programmes in the Chernobyl region. This was channelled through the World Health Organisation and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The first grant of £75,000 was allocated to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support a medical programme for early identification and treatment of children with thyroid cancer in Chernobyl.
In August 1995 we responded to the World Health Organisation's appeal to contain the diphtheria epidemic which had broken out in the Russian Federation, the Ukraine and other newly independent states. Our donation of £75,000 was targeted at the worst affected areas in Belarus and the Ukraine.
I am aware, as I am sure every Deputy in this House is, of the excellent work of voluntary groups in Ireland, set up in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear power station explosion, which focus on the special needs of children in the area.
I join the Minister in commending the efforts of Irish voluntary agencies and individuals who have done so much good work in the area to which they continue to travel bringing badly needed aid. Will he avail of the unique opportunity presented by our Presidency of the European Union to force concerted action on environmental issues such as the proposed violation of the 30 kilometre exclusion zone which is of concern not just to those in the Chernobyl area but to all Europeans? Will the Minister comment on the political instability in the area? A referendum will be held on 7 November to greatly expand the powers of the President. This cannot be in the best interests of the rest of Europe given his record and his proposals for the exclusion zone.
There is concern in the European Union about the political uncertainty in Belarus arising from the President's proposals to introduce constitutional changes. This concern was expressed at the special European Council in Dublin on 5 October. The matter was also discussed at the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday and particularly at the meeting of the Association Council with Central and Eastern European countries. I conveyed our concerns to the Belarus Foreign Minister when I discussed the matter with him at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We are hopeful that changes will take place.
We have also expressed our concerns about the violation of the 30 kilometre exclusion zone and will continue to monitor what is a difficult situation to ensure, on the basis of the memorandum of understanding, that all obligations are fully complied with by the year 2000.
I accept the good intentions of the Minister and European Union leaders who have had various discussions about the matter but this is a humanitarian disaster, it is about children, many of whom we meet when they visit our constituencies during the summer to stay with host families. I met some of them on one occasion in Kerry. We should be concerned about their future. Political manoeuvring in their own country should not be seen to damage them further. Constructive and positive measures, rather than well meaning resolutions, should be taken to ensure that their rights and future are protected.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by the Deputy in dealing with this tragic humanitarian disaster of ten years ago. Both the European Union and the G7 countries are doing a considerable amount in tackling the matter. The European Union is committed to making 500 million ECU available in Euratom loans and grants under the TACIS Programme. I have had discussions with the Ukrainian authorities and the priority is the closure of the Chernobyl plant, making the sarcophagus safe and upgrading nuclear facilities to the highest possible safety levels. This will cost enormous amounts of money. There is also a requirement to avail of alternative energy sources. These priorities are to be achieved in co-operation with the European Union and the G7 countries.
