My main concern in regard to this matter stems from the fact that there is no requirement in the existing International Maritime Organisation code on the Safe Carriage of Irradiated Nuclear Fuels known as the INF Code or other international instruments under which organisations-agencies such as the UK Marine Safety Agency are obliged to involve adjoining states such as ourselves in the monitoring of shipments of irradiated nuclear fuels close to our shores.
As the Deputy is aware, the Minister of State, Deputy Gilmore, dealt comprehensively with a closely related issue in replying to questions in the House on 17 October 1995. In his reply he referred specifically to deficiencies which Ireland has identified in the INF Code and to the objective which is being pursued through the mechanisms of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in seeking to have some if not all of those deficiencies remedied at as early a date as possible.