Vol. 544 No. 4
162 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her plans to build a broad international alliance of countries who believe the future for workers in the nuclear industry is in clean-up operations at nuclear installations. [29163/01]
The Deputy will be aware of the proposals made in 1999 by Dr. Gordon Thompson to the Joint Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport. Dr. Thompson's proposals, described as a nuclear "Grand Bargain", essentially suggested that France and Britain would agree to stop reprocessing and, with the involvement of other nations, would initiate a programme of nuclear clean up. Dr. Thompson had suggested that smaller countries not involved, such as Ireland, could play an important role as facilitators of the bargain. Dr. Thompson's proposals were referred to during a debate in the Seanad on 3 March 1999 in connection with a motion on nuclear fuel reprocessing in the course of which I outlined the Government's position. The matter was also the subject of Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 19 May 1999.
The Government would fully support any suggestion that operations in the nuclear industry, including the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, should cease and that operations should instead concentrate on clean up operations at nuclear installations. However, the approach to be adopted by Ireland needs to be realistic and based on our best assessment of what is likely to be achieved successfully. This includes any diplomatic initiatives we adopt. I would like to refer the Deputy to my contribution to the Seanad debate on the motion referred to above and to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 19 May 1999 in which I outlined some of the initiatives undertaken by the Government.
The Government will continue to avail of every opportunity in the international area, such as at EU meetings, meetings of the International Atomic Energy Agency, of the OECD and of OSPAR to convey its strong opposition to nuclear related activities and to promote an improved safety culture.
