Vol. 491 No. 4
13 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has received the report of the task force on the dumping of radioactive materials in the Irish Sea; when it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12233/98]
31 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the task force report on the dumping of radioactive material will be published. [12312/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 31 together.
Deputies will recall that I established the task force on the dumping of radioactive materials in the maritime area last year in the wake of revelations by the UK authorities that documents had come to light which showed that radioactive waste had been dumped in the Beaufort Dyke in the north Irish Sea during the 1950s. Additional archival searches carried out by the UK authorities uncovered a number of other incidents of dumping during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, not just in the Beaufort Dyke but also at a number of other locations around the coast of Britain.
The task force is chaired by Nuala Butler, barrister, and includes representatives from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, University College Dublin, the Marine Institute, the Department of Public Enterprise and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. It was asked to review and assess the information available on the dumping of radioactive materials in the maritime area and, based on this review, to advise on survey-monitoring and management measures to ensure maximum protection for our marine resources and restore public confidence in the quality of the marine environment.
I understand that since its establishment the task force has carried out an examination of the archival material made available by the UK authorities concerning the dumping of radioactive material. It has also conducted studies designed to assess the radiological implications of the dumped material. I am advised that the preparation of the task force report is at an advanced stage and I expect to receive it in June. As previously indicated, it is my intention to publish the report.
Will the Minister indicate if the task force is addressing the issue of direct radioactive discharges from Sellafield into the Irish Sea? Is he aware of the report published yesterday by Greenpeace which suggests the level of discharges from Sellafield into the Irish Sea are worse than they have ever been and the level of radioactivity in it is critically high? Is the task force addressing those matters? What steps is he taking as Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources to protect the Irish Sea from this level of radioactivity? Will he agree Greenpeace's report has enormous consequences for the Irish Sea environment, the fishing industry there and people's concerns about the Irish Sea as a resource and as a source of food?
Technically, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources is responsible for matters relating to dumping at sea, not for matters related to Sellafield. The Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, is directly responsible for matters related to Sellafield, the Department of Public Enterprise and the Radiological Protection Institute. I am concerned with the secondary effects of anything that happens at Sellafield and its effect on marine life, our waters and shores. I asked the task force to take that into consideration. I have not seen Greenpeace's report, but I am concerned about the questions it raises. From reports I saw on the outfall from Sellafield, the area immediate to it is the prime one of major danger, particularly to marine life. We examined the effect of the outfall and found it diminished as one travels away from it, but I do not know if there is further evidence on that aspect. I asked the task force to closely examine that matter. The Department of Public Enterprise, through the Radiological Protection Institute, continuously monitors the level of radioactivity in the water from the middle of the Irish Sea, where our responsibility begins, to our coastline. Those figures and anything that is relevant will be included in the report.
I am somewhat surprised at the Minister's reply. He seems to rely on the division of functions as between himself and the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob. Is the ministerial interdepartmental committee on Sellafield still functioning? Is the Minister a member of it? Has it held meetings recently? Is it co-ordinating the Government's response to the threat posed by Sellafield? Has he sought information from the Radiological Protection Institute or the Marine Institute on the effect on marine life, particularly fish, of the discharges from Sellafield? After all the years of talk about Sellafield, the level of radioactive discharges from that plant into the Irish Sea are now higher than they have ever been and are at an alarming level.
A question please, Deputy. The questions the Deputy asked are not particularly relevant to the question tabled, which is specifically about the report of the task force.
The question relates to radioactive dumping in the Irish Sea. A long pipe from the Sellafield plant is discharging radioactive material into the Irish Sea. The Minister established a task force, but it is not clear if it is dealing with that important matter. If it is not, it should be. On foot of information that has become available in recent days, what action is the Minister taking to deal with that matter? In what way is the Government co-ordinating action between his Department and other Departments that have a responsibility in this area?
The Deputy was a Minister of State in the area of the marine up until last June and is fully aware of all the elements involved. The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources is responsible for matters relating to dumping at sea. The Department of Public Enterprise is responsible for matters related to Sellafield and energy. The former Government had a Minister of State with specific responsibility for targeting that problem. I can comment on many of these matters and I am generally aware of various matters in other Departments. The normal procedure is that a specific question on Sellafield is tabled to the Minister for Public Enterprise, but one on dumping at sea is tabled to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources. I am answering questions on dumping at sea. They relate specifically to dumping because they would not have been tabled to me if they did not. From the point of view of the task force, I said I do not accept a division of responsibility that is absolute.
The outfall from Sellafield can affect marine life, the water and eventually the shoreline on this side of the Irish Sea. I told the Deputy of my knowledge of that. At the outfall it can effect marine life, but in previous studies any effects of the outfall that come across the Irish Sea to where there is fishing on our side have been minimal. I asked the task force to specifically examine that in great detail. I do not understand how the Deputy can say he does not know whether the task force is examining that matter, when I said it was examining it. I asked it specifically to examine it and I did that purposely because I am responsible for matters relating to dumping at sea. There is a danger the outfall from Sellafield might not be considered. For that reason I considered the effects of it on marine life, water, etc., had to be considered in the study being undertaken by the task force.
The Deputy also asked about the interdepartmental committee. There is such a committee, the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, is chairman of it, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is a member of it and it is continuing to do its work. If the Deputy had listened to the radio this morning, he would have heard the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, comment on it, which is his area of responsibility. It is an area we will be closely monitoring. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, which is under the Department of Public Enterprise, constantly monitors the effects on the Irish side in the water and on beaches and marine life. It produces substantial reports, abstracts from which will be included in the task force report.
Does the Minister regard a nuclear wastepipe discharging material into the water, with evidence of contamination of the marine environment off the coast of England, Scotland and Wales and contamination of crabs, clams and seaweed, as a matter for his Department? It clearly concerns dumping at sea.
While the Deputy may think it is a matter for my Department, it does not come within the remit of the Department under legislation which he and others passed in the House. I have to work within that legislation. The matter comes within the brief of the Minister for Public Enterprise. I have tried to explain at some length my interpretation that if the outfall results in radioactive material entering the sea from Sellafield, then I must be concerned with it.
The question concerned the work of the task force and whether the matter is being examined by it. I have said the matter is being closely examined by it in accordance with my request. The task force is examining the overall issue and I am confident the report will be substantial, fundamental and clearly scientifically based. I asked it to carry out the examination even though Sellafield, per se, does not come within my area of responsibility.
Why did the Minister not include Question No. 26 in his reply? It deals with exactly the same subject. In particular the question asks the Minister to indicate the outcome of his meeting with Dr. Jack Cunningham, an issue he very quickly responded to. There is always some confusion over which Minister is responsible for issues relating to Sellafield, a problem which has arisen today. In view of the fact that Question No. 26 is relevant to what we are discussing, will the Minister tell us the outcome of his discussions with Dr. Jack Cunningham and whether he will be making an urgent effort to talk again with him in the context of the two Departments concerned with Sellafield having been clearly misled, as were the people who attended the conferences before the last election when British Nuclear Fuels told us a cock and bull story about what was happening? Will the Minister indicate whether there is a better way to monitor the system rather than waiting for Greenpeace and other organisations to send divers to investigate something we should be investigating?
Regarding Question No. 26, I answer questions as they are associated in agreement with the House. It has many similarities with the questions I am answering, but it relates particularly to the effects on the marine life of Sellafield.
I am very concerned about Sellafield, but it is not specifically my area. We are measuring the indirect effects of discharges. Those in the Opposition who have served as Ministers will be aware that the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is a very fine body with people of very high standing. I know of their work over the years and it would be foolish to disregard it by comparison with any other work. I strongly rely on the institute.
I am very interested in the Greenpeace report. We are undertaking a comprehensive study on the effects of dumping and the indirect effects of Sellafield on marine life. It is a thorough study being carried out by our best experts. There is nothing shallow about it. The RPII is continuously monitoring the position in the Irish Sea in relation to marine and shore life. The outfall pipe of Sellafield is where Greenpeace concentrated its efforts. There is clear information in the public domain regarding the position around that pipe. That information has been published and Dr. Jack Cunningham, the UK Secretary of State, has drawn attention to it. It shows the difficulties in the area immediately around the outfall pipe and our people are very much aware of them. I do not know the technical detail of the further claims being made by Greenpeace, but we will closely examine them, the effects on marine life and our responsibility in that context. The Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise, Deputy Jacob, is directly concerned with this issue and is following it up. Assisting him is the RPII which comes under the Department of Public Enterprise.
Do Irish fishermen catch fish in the vicinity of the Sellafield outfall pipe? If so, are the fish landed in Ireland? Will the Minister attend the OSPAR Convention in July and is he preparing a case from the perspective of his Department regarding protection of the marine environment of the Irish Sea and our fisheries in the context of radioactive discharges from Sellafield?
Regarding the report of the task force, will the Minister say whether its recommendations will be brought to an intergovernmental conference and be part of the Strand Three arrangements in the context of the importance of having pressure put on the British Government so that the issues, particularly in relation to Sellafield, can be addressed? If not, will the recommendations be used as evidence in the court case being taken by STAD, the Dundalk residents against Sellafield?
The first thing to be done with the report is to make sure it is properly analysed so that we know exactly what we are talking about and where it fits into the overall picture. I will meet Dr. Jack Cunningham who has been very co-operative and has provided much information which has been used by the task force. The need to raise the matter at the Intergovernmental Conference is a matter which the Taoiseach will consider. It will depend on the facts and information we have and the proper and full analysis of the report. I have not as yet seen the report.
In regard to fishing, we are prohibited from fishing in that area anyway. I hope to attend the OSPAR conference where I intend to raise a wide variety of issues. The Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise, Deputy Jacob, will specifically represent the Government on the Sellafield issue.
(Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate)
