Vol. 536 No. 6
148 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Defence if he proposes to store radioactive waste materials currently in the possession of the Permanent Defence Forces at the logistical base now being developed at the Curragh, County Kildare. [15254/01]
As the Deputy may be aware, I gave a detailed answer in the House on Tuesday, 15 May 2001 to a question nominated for priority on the background to this whole issue.
The position is that isolated radioactive segments from decommissioned mortars are currently stored in steel bins in Clancy Barracks in a special radioactive materials storage facility. This facility is constructed in accordance with international requirements for the storage of such items and comes under the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland or RPII for audit and inspections. The facility is operated in strict accordance with RPII guidelines. The storage of the material in this facility presents no danger to military personnel. The material will remain in this facility in Clancy Barracks until a new one is built in the new Defence Forces logistics base in the Curragh.
It is mandatory for the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces to maintain a register and inventory of all radioactive substances and to be licensed by the RPII in that regard. The Department and the Defence Forces meet all the requirements of the RPII. The Defence Forces have carried out a full audit of the ordnance materials and systems under its control and none present any hazard from radiation.
