Vol. 511 No. 5
10 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in the publication of the report of the task force on radioactive dumping in the Irish sea in view of the fact it was promised in June 1998. [24661/99]
36 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has received the report of the task force on radioactive dumping in the Irish sea which was expected in June 1998; if so, when he will publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24736/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 36 together.
This report will be published as soon as printed copies become available. The printing process is well advanced and copies should be in the hands of Deputies within the next two weeks. The delay in finalising the report has been due to a combination of factors. Principal among these was my request that the task force responsible for producing the report carry out investigations of claims of dumping in the 1950s and 1960s which came to light subsequent to the setting up of the task force and also the availability of further information from the UK authorities.
While I do not wish to pre-empt the findings of the report, I believe a sailor who served in a vessel in the past revealed the extra information. As a result of this, extra investigations took place. Was credence given to the assertions made by that sailor at the time?
I cannot confirm that. I tend to leave people alone to pursue such an issue. I will then see the report. I understand there was great difficulty and time involved in locating it. That will—
We will know in two weeks.
Yes.
I am pleased the Minister will be publicising this report. I hope he circulates it to us as soon as possible. If the meantime, has he had consultations or discussions with his counterpart in the British Government on the media reports of an increase in radioactivity in the Irish Sea?
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland – RPII – did some work for the study. The main increases that occur are very close to Sellafield. The principal problem arises in the immediate marine environment around the fallout from Sellafield. Fortunately for us, the affected species do not come across the Irish Sea. The dispersal is very substantial from there out.
We might be wandering a little outside the substance of the question.
We will have the details within a couple of weeks.
