asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he is aware that the British Government, in disposing of nuclear waste off the south west coast of Ireland, is in breach of the London Dumping Convention; and if his Department has lodged any objection with the British Government on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dumping of Nuclear Waste.
241.
The London Dumping Convention permits the dumping of low level radioactive contaminated waste in suitable packaging and under internationally agreed procedures supervised by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the OECD. I have no evidence that dumping carried out by the British Government has been in breach of either the Convention or the procedures. My Department has not lodged any objection with the British Government in this matter.
242.
asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he is aware that there is definite scientific evidence available to indicate that the present dumping of nuclear waste off the south west coast of Ireland is potentially dangerous; if his Department prepared a study of the problem; and if its findings will be published.
The Nuclear Energy Board has advised me that the dumping of nuclear waste as carried out, up to the present time, in the North-East Atlantic dumpsite, does not constitute a hazard to health.
My Department has not prepared any study on the problem. However, the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has carried out a review of the continuing suitability of the dumping site for radioactive waste. This review was undertaken by an International group of oceanographic and radiation protection experts which included a representative of the Nuclear Energy Board. The review concluded that the dose rates received by members of the most exposed group in a year due to recent average rates of dumping are no more than 0.1 per cent of the relevant internationally recognised dose limit.