Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Feb 1999

Vol. 501 No. 2

Written Answers. - Nuclear Accidents Emergency Plans.

Phil Hogan

Question:

116 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Defence the responsibility he has to monitor a nuclear fallout; the equipment and contingency plans he has to meet this responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4956/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Emergency planning and preparations for coping with the consequences of nuclear fallout have been a concern of my Department over many years. The accident in Chernobyl in 1985 brought it home to us all how vulnerable we can be to a nuclear accident happening many miles from our shores.

In the subsequent years planning has been undertaken to organise all the resources of the State to cope with the consequences of such situations. The Government approved a National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents and this was published in booklet form in 1992 under the auspices of the Department of Energy. The plan is designed to provide a rapid and effective response to accidents involving the release, or potential release, of radioactive substances into the environment which could give rise to radiation exposure.

The plan has been exercised at national and international level under the auspices of the Department of Public Enterprise which is the lead Government Department in such situations and my Department has played its full part. The process of review is ongoing and late last year a number of procedural and practical improvements to the plan were identified and these have now been approved by Government.

The roles assigned to the Department of Defence are clearly laid out and involve duties for the Defence Force and Civil Defence.

My Department holds instruments that can detect and measure alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Equipment is also available to carry out environmental sampling. Much of the equipment has been issued to local authorities where Civil Defence Units regularly train and exercise to provide an effective crisis response. Similar equipment is on issue to the Defence Forces.

I, as Minister of Defence, must be mindful of the threat of fallout arising from nuclear weapons which is, thankfully, considered a more distant prospect than it has been in the past. Nonetheless I am concerned to see that planning and preparation are kept at an appropriate level.