Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
91. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the communications he has had with his British counterpart with regard to the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset; his views on nuclear energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40196/14]
View answerPursuant to the legislative prohibition, under section 18 (6) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, on the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation in Ireland, the Government does not support the use of nuclear power within the State on grounds of public health and safety, environmental protection and security. While we do not have a nuclear power industry in this country, it is the Government’s long-standing position that, where another State chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this should be done in accordance with the highest international standards with respect to safety and environmental protection. Ireland’s priority is the safety of the Irish people and the protection of our environment, including the shared marine environment of the Irish Sea. In this regard, the EPA’s Office of Radiological Protection (formerly the RPII), carries out an environmental radioactivity monitoring programme throughout Ireland and has regularly monitored levels of radioactivity in the Irish environment since 1982.
Ireland has been involved in the consultation process on the new-build nuclear programme in the UK, which was announced in 2009. We have written twice at Ministerial level to the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, outlining concerns about potential environmental impacts in Ireland and in the Irish Sea from the new-build programme. The key issues of concern include the UK’s assessments of effects on the environment, the management of radioactive waste, and the rationale underpinning the proposed justification decision for new nuclear facilities.
Notwithstanding the assessment by the RPII in 2012 that the routine operation of the proposed nuclear power plants, including Hinkley Point, would have no measurable radiological impact on Ireland or the Irish marine environment, a finding backed up by the European Commission’s own assessment of the programme’s possible transboundary impacts, my Department will continue to actively engage with the UK authorities to ensure they are fully aware of any concerns arising in relation to their proposed programme.
