Vol. 405 No. 8
27 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Energy if he has made any representations to the UK authorities or directly to British Nuclear Fuels Limited on the suggestions that further nuclear generating capacity might be installed at Sellafield in Cumbria; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I and my Cabinet colleagues have regularly conveyed, to the British Government, Ireland's concerns about the exposure of the Irish population to radiation risks arising from UK nuclear installations and our continued opposition to any expansion of the British nuclear industry particularly on the west coast of the UK and we shall avail of every future opportunity to do so. However, I understand that the proposals for new plant at Sellafield are at present at the study stage, that further studies are required and that no firm decisions have been taken to proceed. The British Government have, in any event, deferred decisions to authorise any new nuclear stations until it has undertaken a review of civil nuclear power in 1994.
