asked the Minister for Energy if, following the publication of the Black Report which confirmed a high level of leukaemia among children living near the Sellafield/Windscale plant in Cumbria, and other evidence showing a high incidence of leukaemia in County Down directly across the Irish sea from the plant, he will request the British Government to stop the dumping of nuclear waste into the Irish sea.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nuclear Waste Dumping.
13.
I can confirm that the Government have conveyed to the UK Government their concern about the continued discharging of radioactive waste into the Irish Sea from the Nuclear Reprocessing plant at Sellafield. The Government have made it known, both directly to the United Kingdom Government in bilateral discussions and also within the Paris Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from landbased sources, that it is a firm requirement of the Government that the discharges from Sellafield to the Irish Sea should be reduced as low as possible and discontinued as soon as practicable.
The Government will continue to make this view known to the UK Government at every available opportunity.
The UK Government's position is that they are committed to a programme of continual reduction in the levels of discharge from the Sellafield plant. Since 1975, the levels of discharges from the plant have been reduced annually and a significant reduction in the current levels is expected next year when a new effluent treatment plant will be brought into service by British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL). In addition, BNFL, who operate the Sellafield plant announced in July last that due to public pressure they had launched a top priority study as to how they could cut the radioactive discharges to the Irish Sea from the plant to as near as zero as possible. This study is still in progress.
The levels of radioactivity in the Irish Sea are continually being monitored by the Nuclear Energy Board. The results of their monitoring programme, which are published and are available in the Dáil Library, continue to show that the radiation exposure of a member of the Irish public is less than one part in a hundred of the safety limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and as specified in the EEC directive laying down the basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation. I am advised by the Nuclear Energy Board that there is no cause for concern to the Irish people arising from the current levels of radioactivity in the Irish Sea. I have emphasised to the board the importance of ensuring that their monitoring programme keeps the situation constantly under review and enables trends to be identified.
I am pleased to see that a number of Members of the House recently accepted an invitation from the Nuclear Energy Board to visit them and to see the work of the board at first hand and in particular the work being carried out by the board in the area of monitoring of the radiation levels in the Irish Sea.
With regard to the report issued by Sir Douglas Black of an independent investigation — ordered by the UK Minister for Health — into the increased incidence of cancer in West Cumbria, England, I wish to say that I personally discussed the report at length with the Nuclear Energy Board, particularly its conclusions and recommendations. The main conclusion of the report was that the evidence available did not establish a link between the observed incidence of luekamia in Seascale and its neighbourhood and the radioactivity released from Sellafield. The report also found no evidence of any general risk to health for children or adults living near Sellafield when compared with the rest of Cumbria.
The report emphasised that there are many uncertainties and recommended further research on aspects of public health in Cumbria including further studies on the cases of the leukaemia and lymphoma, another form of cancer, on the incidences of cancers and mortality rates among young children and further analyses of cancer statistics. It also recommended further analyses of the radiation doses being received by members of the public in West Cumbria and tighter controls over discharges to the environment, including critical assessments of discharges and more frequent reviews of authorisations.
The British Government have been strongly urged to implement speedily these recommendations and the Government, with the assistance of the Nuclear Energy Board, will continue to follow with close attention the actions which the British Government are taking towards implementing the recommendations of this report.
In so far as the incidence of leukaemia in County Down is concerned, I am aware that a number of doctors have expressed concern about the possibility of high rates of leukaemia there. I am also aware that there are no actual figures available and that the Northern Ireland Health Minister has stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the people of Northern Ireland, including those in County Down, are in any danger from the discharges of radioactive waste from the Sellafield plant.
With regard to our own situation, I arranged, following the publication of the Black report, that the Department of Health would consider the feasibility of initiating a study into the incidence of leukaemia along the eastern side of the country. This matter is being examined at present.
I want to thank the Minister for his detailed reply and I am glad representations have been made by the Government in this matter. The earlier part of the reply was very encouraging but the latter part seemed to indicate that there was no cause for concern. In regard to the promise that there will be a continuing reduction in the amount of waste put into the Irish Sea, is the Minister aware that this radioactive waste is cumulative and will not disappear simply because smaller amounts are being dumped, but that it will be increasing the radioactivity in the Irish Sea all the time? Is he satisfied with the promise of a continuing reduction when what is required is that they stop immediately dumping any further waste into the Irish Sea?
The Deputy will realise that I take advice from the Nuclear Energy Board on this matter and they have sufficient experts to be aware of the situation. The Deputy will also be aware of the safety limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the limits set down in the EEC directive. I am advised that the Irish public are exposed to less than one part in a hundred of the safety limits set down by those two internationally recognised bodies. I am also advised that the United Kingdom authorities maintain that they are applying the ALARA principle, that is, that the emission should be as low as reasonably possible. We are not happy that that is the situation and we are taking this matter up with the British minister involved. We hope, under the Irish Presidency of the EEC, that we will take further action to restate our great concern in this matter.
In regard to the monitoring by the Nuclear Energy Board, I would like to get something clear. I presume the Nuclear Energy Board monitor air pollution, sea pollution and pollution of marine life. I am sure the Minister will agree that a person on land who has not been swimming will only be affected by air pollution.
A question, please, Deputy.
Consider a person on the east coast who swims regularly and eats a lot of fish. Does the monitoring by the Nuclear Energy Board take into account that that person is more open to radiation than the person on land or the person who swims just once a year in the sea? People in Louth and Down particularly swim regularly and eat a lot of shellfish. Is the risk of radiation not much greater for them than for others?
The Deputy will understand that I have to take advice from experts on this matter. The Nuclear Energy Board have an ongoing monitoring programme designed to measure the level of redioactivity in the Irish sea, and in the atmosphere, and in precipitation. They do not rely on the United Kingdom for information, an accusation made many times in the past. The Nuclear Energy Board's monitoring programme is complemented by work done by Dr. Mitchell in UCD who also measured the levels of plutonium in the Irish Sea. Dr. Mitchell's conclusions as regards the levels of radioactivity are in broad agreement with those quoted by the Nuclear Energy Board. Therefore, I am satisfied that the levels of exposure are well within the defined international limits. I would not like the House to become alarmed unnecessarily because I am advised that there is no occasion for anybody to be alarmed about our atmosphere.
Is the Minister aware of the worry that is felt by the people in Louth particularly, and by those along the eastern seaboard about this matter? What contingency plans do the Department have in the event of another accident at Sellafield?
I have made a comprehensive reply and I am sure if the Deputy reads it he can only get the same reassurance I have given to the public. We would be very unhappy should there be another accident at Sellafield and we would hope that the British Government would ensure that the procedures at Sellafield are such as to exclude another accident. We would be very concerned if another accident occured there.
Does Deputy Haughey want to ask a question?
Would the Minister of State please stop huffing and puffing and bluffing about this matter——
A question, please.
I am asking if he will stop bluffing in regard to this matter——
That is not suitable material for a question.
Will he admit that there has been criminal negligence in regard to this whole matter, that there has been a massive cover-up and that my statement that the people concerned should now be in jail has been backed up by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Britain? Even at this late stage will he do something to bring this ominous, dangerous scandal to an end and protect the lives of people?
I am sorry Deputy Haughey is taking such a frivolous line. He always goes for the headlines but usually Deputy Haughey's headlines do not carry much weight in the main story. As I said, it is a firm requirement of the Government that the discharge from Sellafield into the Irish Sea should be reduced as much as possible and discontinued as soon as practicable. That remains the primary objective of my Government.
Close the place down.
It is not within my competence or jurisdiction to comment on criminality of citizens in another State. Deputy Haughey may do so and I am sure he will get another headline.
Question Time is concluded.
May I ask a supplementary question on this very important matter?
I am sorry, Deputy, Question Time is over and I have no discretion in the matter.
I sought to ask a supplementary question before Deputy Haughey.
If I had seen the Deputy offering before Deputy Haughey I would have called him. If the Deputy did offer and I did not see him I regret it.
He is a Government Whip and has his own channels.
The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper.