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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 3

Written Answers - Sellafield Reprocessing Plant.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

37 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will lead a delegation, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs, to meet with her counterparts in the German Government with a view to permanently ceasing shipments of nuclear waste from Germany to Sellafield; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26905/98]

I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 101 on 20 October 1998 and Question No. 73 on 10 November 1998.

The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor developments in Germany and I understand that the suspension with effect from May 1998 of all shipments of nuclear waste from Germany is still in place. The House will be aware that Germany's Government has announced that the nuclear share of Germany's energy supply will be gradually reduced and finally replaced. The ending of the use of nuclear power is to be reviewed by the German Government in the new year and this review will include talks with the nuclear industry. The German Government will also have to take account of international law in relation to their commitments to the spent fuel reprocessing contracts already concluded with the UK and France prior to the imposition of the ban on shipments of nuclear waste.

The Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor the situation on my behalf. Given that the suspension of shipments of nuclear waste from Germany remains in force and in view of the recent positive developments regarding Germany's phasing out of nuclear energy, it is not my intention to arrange any meeting with the German authorities at this time.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

38 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the reason there is no insistence on safety audits being carried out in all British nuclear plants in view of her repeated expression of deep concern at safety in the British nuclear industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26903/98]

I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 77 on 10 November 1998. The position remains unchanged.

I should add that there will be an opportunity to consider general safety of British nuclear stations under the peer review process of the International Atomic Energy Agency's convention on nuclear safety. The objective of the convention is to promote a high level of nuclear safety world-wide and to ensure that all land based civil nuclear installations are safe and well regulated.

The first peer review under the convention is due to take place in April next year and the UK and other contracting parties which operate nuclear installations will have to demonstrate that they are complying with the internationally agreed safety requirements of the convention.

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