Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004
201 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the most recent response from the authorities at Sellafield to his requests for the closure of the plant or the elimination of the threat of pollution. [13879/04]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 143 and 147 of 3 February.
Ongoing contact through correspondence and meetings at ministerial, official and expert level is being maintained with the UK authorities on a range of issues at the nuclear plant. The contacts are productive and reflect an increasing recognition by the UK Government of the serious concern held by the Irish Government on Sellafield. There remains a significant difference of views between the Irish and UK Governments regarding the continued operation of the plant.
In accordance with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, our policy is to bring about the safe closure of Sellafield. Our concern is based on the potential hazards arising from a nuclear accident or incident, the impact of radioactive discharges on the marine environment, the generation, management and disposal of radioactive waste and the risk posed by the associated transport of radioactive materials through the Irish Sea. The UK Government's response to our concern is that radioactive discharges from Sellafield pose no threat to human health or the environment and the nuclear plant and related transports are safe and secure. It also believes that the legacy wastes arising from its nuclear programme are being addressed through the establishment of the nuclear decommissioning agency.
Recently the UK authorities announced a 90% reduction in the discharge of Technetium 99 into the Irish Sea from Sellafield. Ireland and Norway formulated strong objections to the radioactive metal. We have co-operated effectively at meetings of the OSPAR Commission in this regard. The reduction in radioactive discharges is a significant step but the continued practice is a matter of serious concern. The Government will continue to campaign at all levels for the complete cessation of all discharges from Sellafield into the Irish Sea and for the safe closure of the nuclear plant.
