Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:36 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the concerns, if any, he has at the radioactive contamination in the Irish Sea as outlined by the European Parliament. [4152/96]
Written Answers. - Radioactive Contamination.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to a report to the European Parliament on 16 October 1995 on the findings of the Commission's fact finding mission to French Polynesia.
The purpose of the Commission's visit was to verify the operation and efficiency of the environmental monitoring facilities installed by the French authorities during the nuclear tests carried out last year in the area.
The team leader of the visit, Mr. Janssens of Directorate-General IX of the Commission which is responsible for Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection, was questioned by a number of MEPs on various aspects of his report including a question on whether any comparisons existed between the effects of the Mururoa tests and radioactive discharges from nuclear energy plants such as Sellafield and THORP or the Chernobyl accident. In stating that the overall exposure of the Polynesian population is lower than in most countries in Europe and France particularly, unintended confusion was caused about the Irish Sea.
In fact, Mr. Janssen made no specific reference to radioactive contamination in the Irish Sea. This misunderstanding was referred to again in the Parliament in November 1995 when Commissioner de Silguy said that he regretted that the statement of the Commission in October had been misinterpreted and that there is no danger to the inhabitants of Ireland.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland monitors the levels of radioactivity in Irish waters. In relation to the Irish Sea, the monitoring programme involves the routine sampling and analysis of seawater, seaweeds, sediments, from the Irish Sea coastline and fish and shellfish from landings at the east coast fishing ports. Samples of seawater and sediments are also collected from areas of the Irish Sea from south of Dublin extending to the north of Dundalk Bay.
The results of the RPII's monitoring programme provide reassurance that there is no significant risk to the health of the Irish public as a consequence of the Sellafield discharges.
Nevertheless, contamination of the Irish Sea by discharges from the British nuclear industry, however minimal, is objectionable and unacceptable and I consider that all radioactive discharges should be progressively reduced and ultimately eliminated at the earliest possible date. The Paris Convention on discharges from land based sources places an obligation on member states to prevent pollution of the seas.