Vol. 475 No. 4
83 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will press to ensure that an EU envoy is immediately dispatched to Elektrogorsk in Russia to assess the risk of a Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster at the plant in view of a newspaper report (details supplied). [5072/97]
Both the International Atomic Energy Agency's Emergency Response Unit and the European Commission's TACIS Nuclear Safety Unit are aware of the report referred to in the Deputy's question. They advise that the risks associated with the disposal of highly radioactive waste at the plant in question are not comparable with the Chernobyl disaster, which occurred at an operational power reactor. Moreover, it has been pointed out that the material referred to in the report is not uranium or plutonium as used in nuclear reactors. In view of this assessment the question of the Government pressing for the dispatch of an EU envoy does not arise. However, the report highlights the importance of ongoing nuclear safety programmes to improve the safety of operating nuclear power plants and civilian nuclear fuel and waste management activities, to promote regional co-operation on nuclear safety in countries operating Soviet-built reactors, and to strengthen regulatory frameworks.
