Vol. 489 No. 6
224 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on Article 3, paragraph 2(a), (b) and (f) and Article 5, paragraph 2 of the EU Council Directive 96/29 Euratom; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a European-wide campaign to have these sections of the directive repealed due to the concern in relation to recycling, reuse and disposal of radioactive contaminated material. [9355/98]
225 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the steps, if any, which will be taken to ensure that Irish consumers are not exposed to imported goods from other EU States which will be able to contain recycled radioactively contaminated material under EU Directive 96/29, Article 5.2 in spite of the fact that the EU forbids the deliberate use of nuclear waste in consumer goods. [9356/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together.
I am aware that concerns have been raised by some members of the European Parliament about Title III of the new EU Directive 96/29 on basic safety standards for the protection of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation.
Title III of the new directive which covers the sections of the directive referred to by the Deputy, considerably strengthens the requirements for reporting and prior authorisation of practices, in particular with regard to the disposal, recycling or reuse of material containing radioactive substances arising from any practice subject to these requirements. Provision has been included in the directive for the disposal, recycling or reuse of materials provided that they comply with clearance levels established by national authorities on the basis of criteria laid down in Annex 1 of the directive. These criteria are designed to ensure that the risks to members of the public are minimal.
I have been advised by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland that there is no evidence that there are consumer goods in Ireland which contain recycled radioactive contaminated material. Indeed, I should add that it is doubtful if any producer of consumer goods would permit contaminated materials, however low, to be used in the manufacture of consumer goods.
