Vol. 566 No. 1
713 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total amount of money expended by the State, to date, in contesting the case which is being brought by four persons in County Louth against the Government, the Attorney General and BNFL in relation to the Thorp plant at Sellafield. [11562/03]
714 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the total expected cost to the State of defending the case which is being brought by four persons in County Louth against the Government, the Attorney General and BNFL, in relation to the Thorp plant at Sellafield. [11563/03]
715 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he or his legal representatives have been in contact with the other defendants in the case which is being brought by four persons in County Louth against the Government, the Attorney General and BNFL in relation to the Thorp plant at Sellafield; if so, the nature of the contact; the persons with whom it took place; if information was exchanged; if so, the details of same. [11565/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 713, 714 and 715 together.
The Attorney General represents the Government in the case. No contact has been made by the Government side with BNFL in this matter. The cost of the case to the State will depend, inter alia, on the time which may be required for hearings and all associated preparations, which cannot be quantified at this time. Some preparations for a legal action such as research, document preparation, etc, have already been under way, but no specific costing of this process has yet been made.
