Vol. 505 No. 1
23 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has reported to her in connection with its visit to Sellafield to examine information and documentation concerning the probability risk assessments which cover the high level waste storage tanks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13002/99]
The RPII has reported to me on its visit to the BNFL Sellafield plant, which took place at the end of April. The purpose of the visit, which I must emphasise was a preliminary one, was to assess the scope and timeframe of the full examination of the documentation which might ultimately take place and the resources that would be required and to form a view as to the feasibility of reaching a conclusion about the safety of the storage tanks.
As a result of the visit, the RPII has concluded that it would be practical and feasible to undertake a further visit to Sellafield to carry out the detailed examination and assessment of the documentation. However, given that BNFL is currently revising its safety case documentation in relation to the storage tanks, the RPII considers that it would be prudent to await the completion of this revision by BNFL before undertaking this further visit. The RPII would envisage the visit taking place in October next when the revision of the safety case documentation is expected to be completed.
I emphasise, as I did when I responded to a previous Dáil question on 18 February 1999 on this matter, that the RPII's investigation of the BNFL safety documentation in no way implies that I have softened my stance about the time-frame for vitrification of the high level waste in the storage tanks. I will continue to request UK Ministers to speed up the vitrification of the liquid waste on the Sellafield site.
