asked the Minister for Energy whether the Irish Government have protested to the British Government about the discharge of nuclear waste from the Sellafield plant into the Irish Sea, reported on January 29 1986; and, if not, the reason.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nuclear Waste.
17.
At my request the Nuclear Energy Board contracted the UK authorities about the recent discharge of 458 kilograms of uranium into the Irish Sea. I understand that the UK Department of the Environment have asked for a report on the matter from British Nuclear Fuels Limited which operates the Sellafield nuclear fuels reprocessing plant. The report is expected shortly. British officials have agreed to discuss with my Department all aspects of the issue when the report becomes available. I will decide what action I should take when I get details of the incident.
I envisage that the discussions will take place under the aegis of the Ireland — UK Contact Group. This group was set up following a meeting between the Tánaiste and the UK Secretary for the Environment to provide formal contact between the two countries on nuclear matters.
As the Deputy knows, the Government are opposed to any radioactive discharges from Sellafield into the Irish Sea. Every opportunity has been taken and will continue to be taken at meetings of the contact group and at other international fora to express the view that discharges from Sellafield must be minimised, and must be eliminated as soon as possible.
We have had far too many recurring incidences of the dumping of nuclear waste in the Irish Sea. We have also had many reports by various groups in relation to the potential damage not only to fisheries but to the health of people living on the east coast of Ireland. We have had meeting after meeting and complaint after complaint to the British Government but again we have an incident. Does the Minister agree that it is time for the Irish Government to say to the British Government: "Enough is enough, close it down once and for all"? In the interests of everybody concerned that will have to be the only result.
It is my Government's wish that any discharges from Sellafield should be eliminated. That is the clear and unequivocal opinion of my Government as expressed by the Minister to his opposite number in the British Government. I do not want to be alarmist, as the Deputy seems to be.
It is time somebody got excited about it.
I am advised by the Nuclear Energy Board that there is no danger to the Irish population resulting from discharges at Sellafield and that these discharges are less than 1 per cent of the limits advised by the International Commission for Radiological Protection and by the EC. I do not want any alarmist statements to go out from this House in that regard. Having said that, I am annoyed about the most recent discharge of 458 kilograms of uranium into the Irish Sea. I must express grave concern and I am annoyed at the failure to notify my Department of the proposed discharge.
I wish to await the report from the British Department of the Environment who have requested BNFL to give them a report on the discharge. I am not pleased with the situation and, if necessary, I will have further ministerial contacts with the British Government in this matter. I should add that I am pleased that at European Community level the suggestion has been taken up by the Commissioner Clinton Davies that a Community inspection force be established. I would welcome such a force. I am also aware that there is a report to be debated in the House of Commons on the British nuclear industry. I will await that debate with interest. I will take whatever action I deem necessary to protect Irish interests and to ensure, in the first instance, that the Alara principle is maintained, that is, that any discharge would be kept as low as is reasonably achievable, and secondly, our primary objective that all discharges from Sellafield should be eliminated as soon as possible. Those are the objectives of my Government, as stated by the Minister for Energy and myself on a number of occasions and will continue to be our position.
A Cheann Comhairle, just one quick question——
I am sorry Deputy, I cannot allow you.
It is not yet 3.30 p.m.
It is and I must move to questions nominated for priority.
No, there is a minute and a half to go.
Not on the clock facing me.
The two clocks are not registering different times today for whatever reason. There is still a minute to go. Just one quick question——
When the Chair says it is 3.30 p.m. it is 3.30 p.m.
Even if it is not 3.30 p.m.?
That is democracy.
That is misguided democracy. Will the Minister ask the British Government to close down the plant because we have no guarantee that the same thing will not happen next month or the month after? Can I put it straight to the Minister: will he ask the British Government to close down the plant and then we will be all right?
The British Government are well aware of the concern of the Irish Government to effect the elimination of all discharges as soon as possible. That is our position.
We have no guarantee it will not happen again next month.
We are not responsible for the operation of Sellafield; its operation is under the aegis of the British Government.
We know that.
Frankly, I very much doubt that the British Government would have a plant in operation which would be to the detriment of the health of their people.
It is the health of our people about which we should be concerned because this is the way it comes. Would the Minister grow up?