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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Apr 1960

Vol. 180 No. 12

Nuclear Research Materials: Agreement with Government of the United States. Motion of Approval.

I move:—

That Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Agreement concluded between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United States of America by Exchange of Notes at Dublin on the 24th March, 1960, concerning the acquisition of certain nuclear research and training equipment and materials, a copy of which Agreement was laid on the Table of Dáil Éireann on the 25th March, 1960.

As Deputies are aware, an Agreement for cooperation between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the peaceful uses of atomic energy was signed at Washington on 16th March, 1956, and entered into force on 9th July, 1958. The text of the Agreement was laid on the table of the House (Pr. 3686).

This Agreement was made as a result of proposals emanating from the Government of the United States which assumed that the Irish Government would wish to pursue, in common with other Governments, an atomic research and development programme of its own, having for its object the peaceful and humanitarian uses of atomic energy, and would therefore for this purpose desire to obtain assistance from the United States.

Animated by the spirit of that Agreement, the United States Government some time ago intimated to the Irish Government that they were preparing a programme to assist friendly governments to procure atomic energy equipment, other than reactors, for peaceful purposes and would be prepared to consider a request from the Government of Ireland for financial assistance in obtaining such equipment. This generous offer was gladly accepted, and following consultations with the University Colleges, a formal request listing our requirements was addressed to the United States Government. As a result, the Agreement which is the subject of this motion was concluded by Exchange of Notes at Dublin on 24th March, 1960.

Under the American programme, the assistance offered is available for a specified integrated and largely self-sufficient assortment of equipment termed "package laboratory" intended for use in nuclear training and research and to supplement existing nuclear research and training.

It is a principal condition of the grant that the Irish Government should undertake to meet the expenses of transporting the equipment from the U.S.A. to the recipient laboratory, to insure the equipment while in transit, to instal and operate the equipment in the recipient laboratories, to indemnify the U.S. Government against all liabilities that might arise in the course of its operation, and to provide the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission with copies of all technical publications deriving from the use of the equipment.

The four University Colleges were consulted as to their needs in the matter and, in response, University College, Dublin; Trinity College, Dublin, and University College, Cork, have applied for equipment valued at approximately £13,000, £24,000 and £70,000, respectively, to meet a variety of graduate and under-graduate requirements of training and research in agriculture, physics, chemistry, medicine, engineering, biology and biochemistry.

The Colleges have agreed to meet the expenses of installing and operating the equipment, and of its insurance, so that the U.S. Government and all who may be concerned will be fully indemnified against any loss or damage arising from its use. They have also agreed to supply the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission with copies of all technical publications deriving from its use. Thus the only financial commitment directly involved for the Government is the cost of transport and insurance while in transit. It is estimated that this may amount to about £5,000. The Government propose that this amount be met out of the Grant Counterpart Reserve Fund.

The Government decided to obtain the approval of Dáil Éireann for the implementation of the Agreement, and I am sure that Deputies will agree that it is desirable that the three Colleges mentioned should be enabled to acquire this equipment. There is no need to underline the importance in this atomic age of training and research in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Those countries that can do so are today exploring the uses of atomic energy to see how this energy can be used for the material progress and well-being of their peoples. It is essential that our students should not be denied the possibility of familiarising themselves with practical developments in this field.

We have, as the Dáil is aware, some very eminent scientists who have distinguished themselves in the realm of nuclear physics, including Professor E.T.S. Walton, who, with Sir John Cockroft, obtained the Nobel Prize for their achievement in being the first to split the atom by artificial means. It is of the highest national importance to provide the requisite training facilities for our young scientists who will, one day, when the peaceful uses of atomic energy are much more widespread than they are at present, be called upon to apply this knowledge to agriculture, industry, science and medicine.

The very generous offer of the American Government which is embodied in the Agreement before the House enables us to take a big step now in preparing ourselves for the future. The Government are deeply appreciative of the friendly sentiments that inspired the American authorities in making this offer. I am sure that I am expressing the sentiments of all members of the Dáil when I say that we are deeply grateful to the American Government for their generosity and trust that the results of this Agreement will be mutually beneficial to our two peoples.

We on this side of the House wish to support this motion and to join with the Minister in expressing our gratitude to the Government of the United States for their generosity in this regard. As the Minister has pointed out, the result of the action of the American Government is that our Universities will get equipment and materials to the value of over £100,000 which will enable students and research workers to work on nuclear energy and its development.

This is not the time or the place to discuss the future of nuclear energy, but there can be no doubt that it is important for us to keep abreast of the developments in that field. We are very fortunate in the people we have working in this field whose experience and knowledge can be of practical assistance to us, and with this generous grant which is to be made available to us now, that experience and knowledge can be applied in a practical way. For the reasons which are so obvious to us all, this Agreement must be welcomed.

Although this is not the time to discuss the future of nuclear energy, it would be advisable if the Government did, in the near future, make known what their long-term proposals are in this regard. The energy requirements of this country are not, perhaps, under the Minister's auspices but on this motion it is desirable that the Government should express their views on the future development of nuclear energy and as to how this development is to take place. I am sure the House will welcome this generous grant, a grant which will bring benefit to our people.

Major de Valera

We should appreciate the magnitude of this grant in its value to the nation and to our Universities. Very recently, we were discussing the question of the technical equipment of our Universities incidental to the debate on University College, Dublin, and the fact that one of the big problems for a modern University was, first, to train graduates to be graduates in the subjects the Minister quoted, and secondly, to train graduates in post-graduate research. The magnitude of that task is formidable for a country such as ours. On the question of equipment alone, there is the double problem of its cost, its availability and location and for coming to our aid in this matter, I think we can join with the Minister in expressing our appreciation of the generosity of the American people as once again manifested here.

This is not merely a question of nuclear energy. There is a certain danger because of the reference to nuclear energy and to nuclear physics generally that a person outside will get the idea that this is a question of big reactors and of immediately going into the advanced realms of nuclear research and nuclear power production. I do not think that is directly at issue; I do not think there is anything more remote for us. There are people who will say—and, perhaps, with a certain amount of justification—that we cannot compete with big organised research undertakings in regard to nuclear power development. Therefore, I think it is only right to point out that much of this equipment that will now be available has other uses. It is essential equipment for the training of a graduate in general physics, but in its research potentialities, it has a much wider range of usefulness than mere power production or anything narrowly associated with the development of nuclear energy. In fact, it is hard to visualise a limitation on the lines of research which can benefit from the equipment which it is proposed to acquire under this agreement.

This equipment can be applied to research in practically any of the aspects mentioned by the Minister. In particular, for instance, it can be applied—some of the instrumentation and perhaps the facilities it entails, isotopes and so on—in biology. There is a very wide field covered by this arrangement and one which it is essential should be provided for in our Universities. The Minister mentioned one very distinguished physicist; in the biological line, we have in this country also, a scientist of international renown, Professor E. J. Conway.

At first sight, one would think that biochemistry and such subjects are far away from the nuclear field and some might be found who would say that biochemistry in agriculture is much nearer our requirements than nuclear energy. We should, therefore, advert to the fact that the equipment that will now become available to our University Colleges will not only help them generally to fulfil their function as training schools for specialists in all the lines the Minister has mentioned, but will also make equipment and methods available to our research schools on the widest possible basis, from which this country is bound to reap substantial benefit in the future. But even if we were not to look forward to benefits from research, the mere fact that this arrangement is something that will enable us to maintain our University standards, both in the training of undergraduates and post-graduate training of graduates in research, gives it an importance that cannot be over-emphasised and it is right, therefore, that it should not go without the warmest commendation from this House.

On behalf of the Labour Party, I should like to support the Minister's motion. Our specialists will now have such equipment to carry out any further research they feel is necessary and also for the training of students and the furtherance of nuclear energy projects.

The importance of nuclear energy is becoming clearer each year. It is quite true that as a small country we must take rather a back seat at present, but as time goes on it will become necessary, when this great boon to mankind, nuclear energy, is turned to peaceful pursuits and concentrated on increased production in the industrial and agricultural field, to have our students educated to handle the problems that will arise. It is with pleasure that we realise that through the generosity of the United States Government the opportunity of taking this project a step further has now been given to us and I join with the Minister in expressing our appreciation of this generous American action.

I wish to thank the various Deputies who spoke in support of this motion. I knew that they would join with me in welcoming this magnificent gift from the American Government. I should like to emphasise what Deputy de Valera said —that this equipment is not meant for power production. The equipment will be used for general nuclear research and training for peaceful purposes. Atomic energy, while disastrous when used in connection with weapons of war, is one of the best tools man has ever possessed. It is some time since I read a list of the uses of atomic energy, and the processes in which it may be used, such as producing radio isotopes and material of that kind. Already, it has been found effective in solving certain agricultural problems in regard to fertilisers. There are also many uses for it in medicine and in general physics and, in biochemistry, its uses are almost unlimited.

Again, I should like to express thanks for the manner in which this motion has been received and to say that I hope the scientists in our Universities teaching our students will make good use of the resources now put at their disposal and that the result of their work and research will redound not only to the benefit of our own people but also to the benefit, in some way, of the American people.

Question put and agreed to.
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