Vol. 500 No. 6
20 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the report, if any, she has received from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland or the Marine Institute concerning radioactivity in fish from any part of the Irish Sea; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3815/99]
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 121 on 10 February 1999 which, inter alia, sets out the RPII's marine monitoring programme. The RPII's considered view, on the basis of the data derived from its own measurements of technetium-99 and other radionuclides present in seafood in the Irish Sea, is that the levels of radioactive contamination which prevail at present in the Irish Sea are now very low and do not constitute a significant health risk.
The Government's objective is the cessation of all radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea. I am determined to do everything possible to ensure that the positive commitments made by the UK in July last year at the OSPAR ministerial meeting on reducing radioactive discharges into the marine environment are fully and speedily achieved. I will be meeting Minister Meacher shortly to re-inforce the Government's views on these issues.
