Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 2

Written Answers - Radioactive Pigeons.

John Gormley

Question:

107 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an atomic physicist (details supplied) recently carried out studies of pigeons taken from the area around the Sellafield reprocessing plant and discovered alarmingly high levels of sisisem 137 and americium and the birds had the highest levels of radioactivity that he ever encountered; her views on this discovery; the representations, if any, she has made to her British counterpart on the issue; and if she has sought assurances from the National Radioactive Protection Board in Britain to establish the way in which these high levels of radiation came about. [9957/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 99 of 3 March 1998. I am aware of the study referred to by the Deputy relating to the recent discovery of high levels of radioactive contamination of feral pigeons near the Sellafield reprocessing plant.

Feral pigeons are highly territorial and are unlikely, therefore, to migrate any great distance. While it is most unlikely that these pigeons would migrate to Ireland, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, decided, nonetheless, to measure radioactivity in Irish pigeons. However, no detectable levels of radioactive contamination were observed by the RPII. There is, therefore, nothing to indicate that contamination of birds should be a cause of concern in Ireland. Both my Department and the RPII have been in contact with the UK authorities on this matter and contact will continue as necessary.