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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 4

Written Answers - Radioactive Waste Disposal.

John Perry

Question:

19 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the further information, if any, he has from the United Kingdom Government regarding the dumping of radioactive material in the Irish Sea or anywhere else in Irish waters; and his views on whether he is receiving full co-operation from the United Kingdom Government in this regard. [19010/97]

Alan Shatter

Question:

45 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the further information, if any, he has from the United Kingdom Government regarding the dumping of radioactive material in the Irish Sea or anywhere else in Irish waters; and if he will allay concerns by publishing this information. [22232/97]

Michael Ring

Question:

46 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the further information, if any, he has from the United Kingdom Government regarding the dumping of radioactive material in the Irish Sea or anywhere else in Irish waters; and if he will allay concerns by publishing this information. [22233/97]

Charles Flanagan

Question:

56 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the further information, if any, he has from the United Kingdom Government regarding the dumping of radioactive material in the Irish Sea or anywhere else in Irish waters; and if he will allay concerns by publishing this information. [22234/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 45, 46 and 56 together.

On 10 July, 14 October and 13 November 1997 I briefed the House on revelations by the UK authorities that radioactive material had been dumped in the Irish Sea and elsewhere around the coast of the United Kingdom in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. An archival search by the UK revealed that dumping had taken place at a number of locations including Beaufort's Dyke, the Holyhead Deep, 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, Morcambe Bay and the Humber Estuary.

Since then, on 24 November 1997, the UK Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Dr. Jack Cunningham MP wrote to advise me that the UK National Radiological Protection Board had published the results of its independent assessment of the dumping of radioactive waste. On the same day a delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the NRPB travelled to Dublin to brief officials of my Department, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and members of the task force which I established on radioactive dumping.
The report concludes that all the past dumpings which were identified during the searches of records would give rise to maximum doses well within the International Commission on Radiological Protection's recommended dose limit for members of the public.
The NRPB report gives rise to some concern. It states, for example, that potentially high doses could arise from the dumping of sludge in Liver-pool Bay or from the return of two anti-static devices dumped off the Isle of Arran on the southwest coast of Scotland. Nevertheless, the report considers that the risk of exposure to these doses is extremely low. In the case of the anti-static devices, the UK authorities have informed me that they envisage advising fishermen and relevant organisations on the steps that should be taken by anyone who suspects they have encountered one of these devices.
In view of this I immediately instructed the task force to carry out a comprehensive examination of the NRPB report and to liaise closely with the NRPB on any issues or questions arising. I want the task force to satisfy itself that all the issues of potential public concern have been addressed.
I have kept both the House and the general public advised of all the information I have received on this matter. I note the UK authorities have adopted a similar approach and that the recent report of the NRPB has been published. It is my intention that the report of the task force will also be published, along with a clear statement by me of the action, if any, I intend to take in the light of its findings.
I am very pleased with the level of co-operation I have received from the UK authorities since these incidents of dumping were first reported in July. As I previously advised the House, I travelled to London to met the Minister Dr. Cunningham shortly after details of the dumping were first made public and he has kept me up to date with developments since then. In addition my Department has been in constant touch with the UK authorities and a number of meetings has taken place between Irish and UK officials both here and in England. I consider that the continuing co-operation between Ireland and the UK at political, official and scientific levels is significantly contributing to the process of bringing all facts on this issue into the open.
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