Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 6

Written Answers. - Nuclear Safety.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

293 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if any Irish research into low level of exposure to radiation has been supported under EU Nuclear Safety Research Programme; if his attention has been drawn to any Irish projects that could benefit or have applied for support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2053/97]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

294 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his Department's involvement with the EU nuclear safety research programme as it operates in Ireland. [2054/97]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

295 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reason Irish membership of the Irish national advisory panel on nuclear safety research is restricted to two staff members of the Radiological Protection Institute whereas all other national advisory panels are at least 15 members from a diverse range of groups; if there are any women on the Irish panel; if he intends to bring any of Ireland's radiation biologists onto this panel in view of the research that has been done on cancer and radiation effects through understanding complex biological systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2055/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Stagg)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 293, 294 and 295 together.

Under the EU fourth framework research and development programme, my Department and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) are involved in a specific EU nuclear fission safety programme and are represented on the management committee representing all member states set up by the Commission. The nuclear safety fission programme is one of 18 community programmes covering specific research areas.

This programme plays a role within the European Community and in Eastern Europe in bringing about safety for all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. The programme has five activity areas: exploring innovative approaches, reactor safety, radioactivity waste management-disposal-decommissioning, radiological impact on man/ environment and mastering the events of the past, i.e., managing the consequences of Chernobyl and of radioactive areas in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.

Projects under these five activity areas are invited through a call for proposals published by the Commission and proposals are submitted directly to the Commission by the proposer. The Commission is then required to select projects based on a fair and equitable evaluation of all proposals by independent experts. These experts are selected by the commission from different countries within and outside the Community. After an opinion is given by the management committee, the Commission finally negotiates research contracts with successful applicants. The management committee consists of two members from each member state and advises the Commission. Selected Irish projects provide a support to Irish research in universities and laboratories.

Last year, national advisory panels were established by the office of science and technology to assist members of the various management committees — their immediate objective is to address the question of Ireland's national position in relation to Commission proposals for a fifth framework programme which will shortly be presented. Membership of panels reflect the level of technological research activity in Ireland relevant to specific programmes. There are four members on the nuclear fission safety committee advisory panel at present: one RPII member, one from my Department, one representing the environmental radioactivity sector and one representative of the medical research sector, these latter being the two main areas where Ireland has received research funding over the past ten to 15 years. There are no women members as of now. The panel will consider the question of enlarging its membership at its next meeting.

I am not aware of EU funding under this specific EU nuclear fission safety programme for cancer research of the type mentioned, but the cancer research area of the EU biomedicine and health programme may be of relevance. One sub-programme of the nuclear fission safety programme relates to research projects into improving the understanding of radiation mechanisms and epidemiology. An Irish proposal for a research project was submitted into this sub-programme recently but was not supported by the Commission. Contractual funding to Ireland to date under the current nuclear safety programme amounts to 784,000 MECU compared to 565,000 MECU under the third framework programme.