Vol. 449 No. 5
34 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Marine his views on whether the Sellafield Thorp waste operations are having a negative effect on consumers' view of fish as a safe food; and the action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter. [3953/95]
I would first of all like to assure the Deputy that fish samples from the Irish Sea are closely monitored on an ongoing basis and that the results of this monitoring indicate that there is no risk of any significance to health from consumption of fish from the Irish Sea.
Secondly, while THORP related publicity is clearly not a positive factor in the promotion of fish consumption, it does not appear to have had an appreciable detrimental impact on the consumers view of fish as a safe food. However, neither of the foregoing statements should be seen as in any way diminishing the Government's general view that Sellafield poses a serious and continuing threat to the health and safety of Irish people and requires a range of actions in relation to Sellafield as set out in the Government's programme.
