Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 3

Written Answers. - Sellafield Reprocessing Plant.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

43 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the action, if any, she has taken following the decision by the British environment agency to authorise continuing technetium discharges from Sellafield and the construction of a MOX plant at Sellafield; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22674/98]

Liz McManus

Ceist:

87 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the representations, if any, made to the British authorities regarding plans for a new MOX nuclear plant at the Sellafield complex in view of commitments given by Britain at the recent OSPAR conference; if so, the response received to the representations; the further action, if any, contemplated by the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22551/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 43 and 87 together.

As regards the proposed MOX plant for Sellafield, I would refer the Deputies to the response which I gave earlier today to Priority Question No. 33 from Deputy Austin Currie on this same subject.

In so far as radioactive discharges, including discharges of technetium-99, from Sellafield are concerned, I very much regret the UK Environment Agency's recent proposed decision for a variation in the Sellafield discharge authorisations. The proposed decision, while it will involved a reduction in the permitted levels of technetium-99 discharges, is totally unacceptable to the Irish Government. Furthermore, I regard the proposed decision as effectively a breach of the undertaking entered into by UK Ministers at the OSPAR ministerial meeting in Portugal in July. At that meeting, the OSPAR Ministers adopted a strategy on radioactive substances incorporating a commitment to achieve close to zero radioactive discharges into the marine environment by the year 2020. Additionally, UK Ministers promised to take account of concerns raised by Ireland and other countries about technetium-99 discharges.

The agency's proposed decision in regard to Sellafield discharges has been referred by the agency to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for their consideration as to whether they wish to direct the agency to make a different decision or to issue further policy guidance to the agency.

In the light of the agency's proposed decision, I have written to the relevant UK Ministers emphasising the Government's strong objection to the proposed decision and the fact that the proposed decision, particularly as regards technetium, is not in keeping with the commitments at OSPAR. I can assure the House, that I will be doing everything possible to ensure that the agency's proposed decision is modified consistent with the commitments at OSPAR.