Vol. 496 No. 3
82 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the negotiations and discussions, if any, she has had with her European counterparts with a view to establishing an inspection force to review and oversee the nuclear industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20820/98]
The Deputy may be aware that previous efforts by Ireland at EU level in seeking the establishment of an EU inspection force within the competencies of the health and safety provisions of the Euratom Treaty have not been successful. A considerable number of EU member states were opposed to the idea and some nuclear member states insisted that an independent inspection force to inspect the safety of nuclear plants on their territory would be an unacceptable undermining of national sovereignty. The widely diverging member state views about nuclear power and the fact that amendments to the Euratom Treaty require unanimity prevented progress on the matter. Nonetheless, it will continue to be Irish policy to favour an inspectorate.
While the concept of a nuclear inspectorate has not received acceptance in the EU, there have been some positive developments elsewhere. Provision has been made in the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Convention on Nuclear Safety for a peer review process. Under this process, each state will be able to review the legislative and regulatory framework that governs the safety of nuclear installations of other contracting parties which would include all member states of the EU. It also provides for a review of the operational and safety procedures for nuclear installations and emergency preparedness. A similar peer review process has been provided for under the IAEA Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste management.
I will continue to seek the best way forward on this issue taking account of developments under the two new IAEA conventions mentioned above.
