Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
419 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proposals in place if there is a terrorist threat or terrorist attack to the Sellafield nuclear plant in the UK, in relation to the potential impact on this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32065/04]
View answerThe Government has in place a national emergency plan for nuclear accidents; NEPNA, which is regularly updated. The NEPNA is designed to provide a response to a major accident or incident at a nuclear installation abroad, including one arising from a terrorist attack on Sellafield, which could result in radioactive contamination reaching Ireland. It has been prepared in accordance with Article 37 of the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order 2000. It is also consistent with international best practice and meets the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency document, Safety Standard Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency (GS-R-2).
My Department has the lead role in implementing the NEPNA through the emergency response co-ordination committee. This committee, which also includes representatives of other Departments and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, would be quickly convened in the event of a major accident or incident at a nuclear installation in the UK or elsewhere having the potential to affect Ireland.
Emergency response management is a constant process. My Department reviews and updates the NEPNA regularly. Such updating deals with adaptations arising from the latest technical and scientific information and accommodates lessons learned through exercises and training.
A Government task force on emergency planning is also in place to co-ordinate the work of Departments and agencies with key roles in emergency planning. My Department is a member of that task force and participates fully in its work.
In the event of any accident or incident at a nuclear installation abroad, the critical issue for Ireland is early notification. Two notification systems are used for early warning. First, the 1986 Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, which was adopted and came into force following the Chernobyl accident, requires all contracting states to inform the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, immediately of an accident in any of its installations, which could have an effect outside its own boundaries. The IAEA, through its emergency response unit based at its headquarters in Vienna, will immediately pass on to all its member states, including Ireland, any notification which it receives of a nuclear accident in any part of the world. Second, in addition to this IAEA system, a separate system, known as ECURIE, European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange, is operated within the EU. Under this system, each EU member state is required to notify other member states of any radiological accident that could have consequences outside its territory. They must also provide details of any protective actions being taken and results of radiological measurements carried out. These notification systems are tested regularly to ensure that they are fully functioning at all times.
In addition, and also following Chernobyl, the International Convention on Assistance in the case of a Nuclear Accident came into force in 1987. This convention established a cooperation framework to facilitate rapid assistance in the event of a nuclear accident or a radiological emergency. Under the convention, a contracting party that requires assistance may call for assistance from any other state, either directly or through the IAEA. Ireland is a contracting party to this convention.
