Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Oct 1997

Vol. 480 No. 7

Written Answers. - Nuclear Discharges.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

33 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the recent British Government decision to phase out all nuclear discharges to the marine environment except those emanating in the Sellafield and Thorp complex; if she has satisfied herself with this decision; if not, the action, if any, she proposes in order to have Sellafield and THORP included in the British decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14934/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

I am aware of the recent decision of the British Government to phase out the dumping of low-level radioactive waste into the marine environment. While I have welcomed this decision, I would have preferred that discharges from nuclear installations such as Sellafield and THORP would also have been covered by the phase out plans.

Radioactive contamination of the Irish marine environment continues to occur as a consequence of the activities of these installations. I of course consider that all radioactive discharges should be progressively reduced and ultimately eliminated at the earliest possible date. There is some evidence that Mr. Michael Meacher, MP, the UK Minister responsible for environmental policy relating to marine discharges from Sellafield, is conscious of the need to make progress on reducing nuclear discharges. He has recently acknowledged the need to commit all Governments to this aim although he qualified this commitment by stating that there was a need for any agreement "to be tempered by what is practicable and to be consistent with the provisions of the existing agreements in this area".

In fact the subject of radioactive contamination was discussed at a meeting of the Oslo/Paris Commission on pollution in the North East Atlantic in the first week of September. As a result of the discussion an Irish/Danish sponsored resolution relating to this subject the UK are to report to the Commission in 1998 on their compliance with the obligations of the OSPAR Consultation.

Leaving aside the OSPAR examination of this subject it is my intention to meet with the UK Minister for the Environment to clarify the direction of UK policy in this area. I propose at this meeting to reiterate Ireland's concerns about discharges from the UK's nuclear industry and to press for a complete elimination of all radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea.