asked the Minister for Energy if he is preparing any new initiative to prevent the dumping of nuclear waste in the Atlantic, in view of the recent disclosures in the European Parliament that the canisters containing nuclear waste may disintegrate.
Written Answers. - Nuclear Waste.
40.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the reply given in the European Parliament on 23 October 1985 to a question by Mr. Maher, MEP on dumping of radioactive waste in the north east Atlantic.
Dumping of radioactive waste at sea is governed by the London Dumping Convention (LDC). Since its entry into force in 1975 the LDC has prohibited outright the dumping at sea of high level radioactive waste. In addition, the dumping of low and intermediate level radioactive waste requires a prior special permit. However, no dumping of low or intermediate level radioactive waste has been carried out in the north east Atlantic dumping site since 1983 when the LDC imposed a moratorium on such dumping pending completion of scientific studies.
Ireland is opposed to the dumping of all radioactive waste at sea and has consistently advocated, and will continue to advocate, this course at the appropriate international fora. At the meeting of the LDC in September 1985, the Irish delegate stated, on my behalf, that although the results of the scientific studies would appear to indicate that there are no scientific and technical reasons for prohibiting dumping at sea, there are other considerations which must be taken into account.
For this reason Ireland supported a resolution, subsequently adopted by the LDC, calling for a continuation of the moratorium on dumping while further studies are carried out. These studies will include an examination of whether it can be proven that dumping of radioactive materials at sea will not harm human life or cause significant damage to the marine environment and will look at the wider political, legal, economic and social implications of such dumping. In addition the resolution of the LDC requests the International Atomic Energy Agency to advise on certain outstanding scientific and technical issues concerning sea dumping of radioactive waste.
A research cruise which will assess levels of radioactivity in the area bounded by Ireland, Spain and the north east Atlantic dumpsite is scheduled for May 1986 as part of a series of studies being carried out jointly by UCD and the Autonomous University of Barcelona on radioactivity in the marine environment. The research cruise will be funded by my Department and the Nuclear Energy Board as well as by the Spanish authorities. Preliminary results are expected in Autumn 1986.