Vol. 481 No. 4
64 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the environmental impact of nuclear waste which has been dumped over the years in the Irish Sea; the total volume and locations of such dumping; the authority or country which carried out such dumping; the action currently being considered in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16400/97]
65 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will list all radioactive materials and all types of nuclear waste which have been disposed of in the seas around Ireland; the impact such dumping may have on marine life and on our environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16404/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together.
On 10 July last I briefed the House on revelations by the UK authorities that radioactive material was dumped in the Beaufort Dyke during the 1950s. I reported to the House on that occasion on my meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Dr. Jack Cunningham MP, at which Dr. Cunningham indicated that an intensive archival investigation was being carried out by the relevant UK Departments. I also announced that I had established a task force to assess the archival material received by me from the UK Government and to advise me on the extent and impact of all information becoming available and the measures necessary to ensure marine life and human health are fully protected.
On 30 July, 1997 Dr. Cunningham advised me of the results of the archival searches carried out by the UK authorities. This revealed two further instances of dumping in the Beaufort Dyke. It also detailed dumping in a number of other locations around the British coast including the Firth of Forth, the North Sea, the Firth of Clyde and off the Isle of Arran. In addition, a number of instances were identified where liquid wastes containing small amounts of radioactivity were dumped at sea. These instances occurred in the North Sea, the Firth of Forth, Liverpool Bay and possibly Morecambe Bay and the Humber Estuary. Finally, on 7 October, 1997 the UK authorities advised my Department of evidence that had come to light of a dumping operation in the Holyhead Deep.
