Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004
48 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made during the Irish Presidency in regard to the proposed Council directive setting out basic obligations and general principles on the safety of nuclear installations and on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16527/04]
View answerDuring its Presidency of the European Union, Ireland actively sought to progress towards the adoption of these two directives, together known as the nuclear safety package. In chairing the European Council's atomic questions working group, Ireland sought to find a sound consensus on the package to facilitate its adoption at the earliest opportunity. While a number of member states, including Ireland, favoured the adoption of EU directives, a blocking minority opposed the principle of a legal instrument. Despite intensive efforts on the part of the Presidency to find unanimous agreement in the group for the adoption of the package in the form of directives, the group was unable to reach a consensus in that regard.
Following its consideration of the matter on 13 May 2004, Coreper mandated the atomic questions working group to develop Council conclusions in regard to the package and to report back to Coreper before the end of June. This process is now in train.
