Written Answers. - Nuclear Safety.
Joe Costello
Question:
23
Mr. Costello
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
if the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has raised with the director of Civil Nuclear Security in the UK Department of Trade, the procedures put in place to assess the threat of a terrorist attack on the Sellafield Nuclear Plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23887/02]
Ciarán Cuffe
Question:
183
Mr. Cuffe
asked the
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
the discussions which have taken place between the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and British Nuclear Fuels since 11 September 2001 to minimise the effects here of a catastrophic terrorist event at the Sellafield Nuclear Plant.
[24074/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 183 together.
Security arrangements at British nuclear power plants, including Sellafield, are a matter for the British authorities. However, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has been in regular contact with the UK's nuclear installations inspectorate (NII) with a view to obtaining as much information as possible in regard to security measures at such facilities.
Following the 11 September 2001 attacks, the Irish Embassy in London contacted the relevant Departments to ascertain what security measures are in place at nuclear installations. The embassy was informed by the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that it is not UK Government policy to disclose details of security measures taken at civil nuclear sites. However, DTI indicated that the UK's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures which are regulated by the DTI Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS). The OCNS also works closely with the NII of the UK health and safety executive which provides advice on the safety implications of events, including external hazards such as plane crashes at nuclear installations. Furthermore, DTI indicated that security and safety precautions at nuclear installations are kept under regular review and that the regulators were reviewing all relevant precautions in the light of 11 September.
There have been further meetings between relevant Irish and UK authorities, and between RPII and BNFL, with a view to assisting further more detailed evaluation by the Irish authorities of the safety of Sellafield installations from attack by terrorists. A recent OCNS report for the DTI on the state of security in the civil nuclear industry and the effectiveness of security regulation concludes,inter alia, that “stringent security precautions are being taken to protect civil nuclear sites and material in the United Kingdom, commensurate with current threats to national security” and that “satisfactory arrangements have also been made with the Ministry of Defence to protect civil nuclear sites from attacks from the air”.
However, the RPII has advised my Department that, because of UK security restrictions, neither the briefings provided, nor the OCNS report, provide sufficient technical detail to enable the RPII fully to evaluate these conclusions.
A more recent meeting took place in July 2002 and was attended by the RPII, my Department, the Office of Emergency Planning and the Irish Embassy. Unfortunately, while the UK provided more information on the methodology of their nuclear security measures, the information was of a general nature and lacked specificity. Ireland's concern to have more details regarding the safety and security arrangements at Sellafield and the consequences of a terrorist attack on the facility was again emphasised to the UK.
The RPII met the NII on 8 November last to discuss an arrangement for the exchange of safety related information concerning the siting, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of nuclear installations in relation to which the NII has responsibility. During the course of this meeting, the NII indicated that for security reasons, it was not at liberty to give any further information on the Sellafield plant than had already been given.
The Irish Government has in place a national emergency plan for nuclear accidents. This plan is designed to respond to a major disaster at a nuclear installation in the UK, or elsewhere, which would result in a major release of radioactivity into the environment and pose a radiological hazard in Ireland whether the disaster is caused by an accident or a terrorist attack. All the information gained by the RPII in regard to safety and security measures at British civil nuclear power plants provides constant input to our emergency planning and management response programme.
An information booklet, entitled National Planning for Nuclear Emergencies, was published by my Department in March 2002, and sets out the principal features of the national emergency plan for nuclear accidents. An information leaflet summarising the main elements of the booklet has been distributed to every household.
