I welcome the Bill which reinforces Ireland's position on nuclear safety and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Concerns about nuclear safety are not confined to countries in which nuclear plants are located nor to countries which have deployed nuclear weapons for security purposes. Ireland's nuclear policy objectives place a heavy emphasis on nuclear safety and radiological protection. While some countries have retained nuclear power as an option for power generation, Ireland has opposed any net expansion of this industry while problems exist with nuclear safety, radioactive waste disposal, plant decommissioning, nuclear proliferation and the ever present risk of a nuclear catastrophe.
Non-proliferation should be at the heart of any international security programme. No one set of activities can sufficiently address proliferation threats since they may encroach on national, international and global interests. It is the view of the International Atomic Energy Agency director that for over five decades strategies of national and international security have been intertwined with the concept of nuclear weapons as a strategic deterrent. The achievement of a nuclear weapons free world will crucially depend on a fundamental change in that concept of security.
Instead of an outright ban on the use or acquisition of nuclear weapons, a gradual approach was adopted under the 1970 treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Different commitments were given at the time by two distinct groups of states – for the five nuclear weapons states, that is, the states which had manufactured and detonated a nuclear weapon before January 1967, a commitment to divest themselves of those weapons through good faith negotiations, and for all other states a commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons and to accept the International Atomic Energy Agency verification of all their peaceful nuclear activities in return for assured access to peaceful nuclear technology through the technology holders.
For the past three decades a variety of diplomatic and political strategies have been pursued to advance the twin goals of non-proliferation and disarmament. Progress towards a nuclear weapons free world will continue to be difficult as long as certain political and security realities and perspectives persist. Nuclear weapons have been progressively losing their value as a currency of power due to the political, legal and moral constraints on their use. This is very much to be welcomed.
A non-proliferation regime for nuclear weaponry is primary. This has been almost universally agreed with some exceptions, as mentioned by other speakers. The commitment by the nuclear weapons states to accomplish the total elimination of nuclear weapons is a sign of hope. Security through economic, social development, good governance, respect for human rights and an agreed process for the peaceful settlement of disputes is, ultimately, the best disincentive to acquiring nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The traditional view of nuclear weapons as an effective deterrent is a mindset with which we have lived for decades. This mindset must be dissolved and replaced by alternative peaceful modes of assuring global security.
While I fully support and welcome the Bill, there are a number of other issues, perhaps local to us in Ireland, which we should consider within its context. They have a bearing on the management of radioactive sources and are also in need of urgent consideration. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is the regulatory body with statutory responsibility for radiological protection in Ireland. The RPII has among its responsibilities that of representing the State on international bodies and being the competent authority under international conventions on nuclear matters. It has responsibility for monitoring developments abroad and radiological safety generally. For the purposes of the Bill, it is the national authority for the implementation of the protocol, as described.
Some of the more immediate concerns to us in Ireland in regard to nuclear matters are worthy of consideration. I refer particularly to the risks posed by Sellafield. For a considerable number of years there has been serious concern in Ireland, particularly on the east coast, about the risk to health from the nuclear installation operated by BNFL at Sellafield. This concern has increased in recent years by the introduction at the site of a major new plant, now known as THORP. It is worth remembering that the original purpose of Sellafield or Windscale, as it was then known, was the production of plutonium for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. It is now in the business of reprocessing spent fuel from worldwide sources.
Concerns have been expressed on an ongoing basis about Sellafield operations. Only relatively recently has it become clear that the standards in operation at Sellafield are anything but satisfac tory. The RPII has continuously expressed concern about discharges from Sellafield into the Irish Sea. It has always considered that the greatest risk to Ireland is through a major accident to the tanks holding radioactive waste on the Sellafield site. These tanks have been identified as representing possibly the greatest risk of an accident at Sellafield which could have serious consequences for Ireland.
There is another matter still outstanding in relation to radiological protection. The Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill, 1998, is still awaiting completion. It has been at the Committee Stage for over 18 months. If we are to concern ourselves with the activities of the RPII, it would be timely to address the Bill in the House and ensure the amendment is introduced as soon as possible. The amendment is being made for a very specific purpose, that is, to protect the public by ensuring the practice of chiropractors in the use of X-ray equipment is clearly defined. I urge that this be done immediately. The medical exposures directive is also awaiting completion and has yet to be implemented. These are two substantial matters which should have been addressed long before now and it is not good enough that the legislation has not been implemented while hospital patients in particular are potentially at risk.
Another problem which needs to be addressed with some urgency is the need for a storage facility for radioactive sources. This matter has been referred to many times by the RPII and many others with an interest in radioactive materials. It is very unsatisfactory that sources are stored at a number of locations throughout the country because of the lack of a central storage facility. Within the last year two sources were mislaid. Part of the reason for this is that there is no single identifiable storage facility at which such materials can be stored safely. I urge that this matter be addressed. While it is not directly related to the Bill, it impacts seriously on radioactive materials and should be looked at with some concern and urgency.
The Bill has little relevance for Ireland, in a practical sense, other than through a reporting mechanism and the very limited responsibilities and actions which need to be taken, to which the Minister and other Deputies have referred. For the purpose of the Bill, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is the responsible authority. The explanatory memorandum states that the Bill, when enacted, will have no significant implications for the Exchequer or staffing levels. With the passage of time, however, many agreements take on a life of their own and do generate staff requirements and require specific resources to be provided. I would like to be assured that should this arise, the necessary resources will be made available to ensure the protocol is applied adequately and effectively. The threat of nuclear weapons has not disappeared. It is important, therefore, that international agreements are designed and operated to ensure nuclear wea ponry can be detected, audited and that appropriate reporting mechanisms are in place, as outlined in the legislation. However, as my colleague, Senator Costello, pointed out in the Seanad, the tardiness in moving the Bill is reprehensible and we should ensure it is passed with due haste.
The Bill will provide for us to ensure non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. I welcome it, but the Labour Party will table amendments on Committee Stage.
