Vol. 493 No. 4
32 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has received the report of the task force on radioactive dumping in the Irish Sea which was expected in June 1998; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16071/98]
63 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his Department's understanding of the quantity of radioactive materials which have been dumped in or around the Irish Sea; the progress, if any, in relation to the scientific assessment of this dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16355/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 63 together.
Last year the UK authorities revealed that previously unreported instances of dumping had taken place in Beaufort's Dyke between Northern Ireland and Scotland in the 1950s. Subsequent archival investigations revealed further instances of dumping at a number of other locations in the Irish Sea and around the UK during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. In addition to Beaufort's Dyke, dumping had taken place in the Holyhead Deep, the Firth of Forth, the North Sea, the Firth of Clyde and off the Isle of Arran. The material dumped was solid packaged radioactive waste. 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. None of the material came from Sellafield.
On 27 May last I advised the House that the work of the task force on the dumping of radioactive materials in the maritime area, which was established in the wake of the UK revelations, was at an advanced stage and that I expected to receive its report in June. It has not proved possible for the task force to complete its work within this timeframe. Nevertheless, I am anxious to publish the report shortly.
