The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) monitors the levels of radioactivity in Irish waters to study the distribution of contaminating radio-nuclides, identify trends and assess the risk to public health. In relation to the Irish Sea, the monitoring programme involves the routine sampling and analysis of seawater, seaweed, sediments, fish and shellfish along the east coast. Samples of seawater and sediments are also collected from the Irish Sea from an area south of Dublin extending northwards to Dundalk Bay.
The RPII publishes the results of its monitoring programme and results for the period 1988-90 are available. If the Deputy so requires, I can forward him a copy of this report. The report for the period 1991-92 is in the course of publication. In general, results of this programme show that concentrations of radionuclides in the Irish Sea have shown a decrease in recent years. This has been due to the significant decrease in the Sellafield discharges. In addition, the RPII's monitoring programme shows that there is no significant risk to health from the consumption of marine produce from the Irish Sea. There should be no concern about frequenting beaches or enjoying the facilities of the Irish Sea.
Concerns have been expressed on occasions about the presence of plutonium in the Irish marine environment. The RPII has measured its concentrations and found them to be very low. It is, of course, keeping the plutonium concentrations under continuing review.
Whilst the RPII's monitoring programme provides a reassurance that there is no significant risk to the health of the Irish public as a consequence of the Sellafield discharges, the discharges cause contamination of the Irish Sea. This contamination is not welcomed and I would like to see all discharges progressively reduced and ultimately eliminated.