Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Written Answers. - Radioactivity Standards.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

121 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the fact that only standards for the acceptable levels of radioactivity are those set for a part nuclear accident scenario; if she will raise with the Atomic Energy Agency the urgent matter of agreeing standards for acceptable levels of radioactivity in normal circumstances other than part nuclear scenarios; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14210/98]

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

Basic standards for the protection of the health of the general public and workers in the EU against the dangers arising from ionising radiation are laid down in Council Directive 80/836 EURATOM of 15 July 1980, as amended by Council Directive 84/467 Euratom of 3 September 1984. The provision of these basic safety standards directives have been enshrined in Irish law.

In 1996, the BSS Directives were further amended by Council Directive 96/29 EURATOM of 13 May 1996.

The BSS Directives are based on the Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. They cover all normal and accident situations and prescribes radiation dose limits for workers and members of the public. Irish legislation is in the course of being amended to take account of the 1996 Directive.

Regarding a nuclear accident scenario, the directives set out in the radiation protection principles for actions to be taken to prevent or decrease the exposure of individuals to radiation. They require each member state to establish intervention levels and these have laid down for Ireland in the National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents.

In addition to these directives, there are a number of EU regulations which were adopted following the Chernobyl accident. In 1990, an EU Council Regulation was adopted to control the imports of agricultural products products orginating in third countries. In addition, regulations laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and feedingstuffs following a nuclear accident were also adopted — these latter regulations would be brought into force in the event of a future nuclear accident affecting the EU.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has also issued international basic safety standards for protection against ionising radiation. These are similar to those of the EU.

Given the range of existing EU regulations and directives in place, I do not consider it appropriate to raise this issue with the IAEA.