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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nuclear Safety.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

93 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the role of her Department in relation to the national emergency plan for nuclear accidents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12692/99]

My Department, in conjunction with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, has primary responsibility for emergency planning for nuclear accidents. A national emergency plan for nuclear accidents is in place to ensure 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 of the public.

My Department has overall responsibility for the Plan and for ensuring the co-ordination of the responsibilities and functions of the relevant Departments and statutory organisations.
The relevant Departments and statutory organisations have responsibilities under the plan to establish procedures to implement measures within their particular fields of competence, including integration, where appropriate, with emergency services already provided for other civil emergencies. My Department's role is to ensure that the sub-plans of the relevant Departments, the RPII and other statutory organisations, including local authorities, are fully operational and regularly updated. My Department, in conjunction with the RPII, is also responsible for organising tests of the emergency plan.
Following a review of the plan by my Department and the RPII in consultation with the relevant key Government Departments, a number of procedural and practical improvements to the plan were identified and these were approved by Government in December last. The revised arrangements are in the process of being implemented. It is my intention to update, as soon as possible, the existing 1992 booklet entitledNational Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents to take account of these changes and to have a test of the revised plan later this year or early next year.
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