asked the Minister for Energy if his attention has been drawn to a statement (details supplied) accusing the Government of a double think in condemning the operation of Sellafield while at the same time paying taxpayers' money into an EC fund for the development of nuclear energy; and if he will outline the Government's position on the matter.
Written Answers. - Operations at Sellafield.
133.
The Government have been concerned for some time that the Irish population may be open to hazards from nuclear installations in other countries and we have a legitimate interest in the standard of safety in such installations. The Government consider that there is an obligation on nuclear countries to implement their programmes in conformity with the highest levels of safety, and there must be international mechanisms to assure third countries that national safety standards come up to internationally agreed norms, and are being fully observed.
The Treaties establishing the European Communities provide for the development of nuclear energy but there are important provisions in the Treaties relating to the protection of health and safety of workers and the general public and the safeguarding of nuclear materials.
It is through Ireland's membership of the European Communities including the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) that the Government have a means of expressing these views and having them more fully and effectively taken into account than could ever be possible outside the Communities. It is within the framework of Euratom that I have been pressing for the establishment of a Community nuclear inspection force. Health and safety are major elements of the Euratom Treaty and considerable Community resources are spent on this aspect of nuclear power. The Government's priority is that Community competence in these areas should be increased.
The provision for Community expenditure on promoting its nuclear objectives are contained in the Community budget. Once a budget is adopted, in accordance with Community law, the Community is legally entitled to collect the financial resources needed to finance the budget. These resources belong to the Community itself and not to the Governments of the member states who merely collect them and pay them over to the Community as its agent. It is not open to a member state to opt out of payment of any part of the resources which are the property of the Community.
Community financing of individual nuclear installations in member states is by way of loans from Euratom and the European Investment Bank. Such loans are made at commercial interest rates, the funds are raised in the financial markets and are not provided out of the "own resources" used to finance the budget of the Communities.
The arrangements for funding nuclear expenditure in the Community do not in any way inhibit the Government from pursuing their concerns about the safety of particular nuclear installations or operations either in the framework of the EC or otherwise.