Written Answers. - Nuclear Plants.
Derek McDowell
Ceist:
54
Mr. McDowell
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
the contacts made with the British Government on its decision to sanction the commissioning of the MOX plant at Sellafield; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29805/01]
Ivor Callely
Ceist:
84
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
the progress of the Government's opposition to Sellafield; the nature of the legal action which has been taken against the United Kingdom under European Union law regarding the MOX plant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[29471/01]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
121
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
the recent discussions she has had with the British Government concerning the new MOX plant at Sellafield, which is due to begin operation in late November 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[26248/01]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 54, 84 and 121 together.
Since taking office in 1997, I have vigorously pursued the Government's campaign against Sellafield. I have had numerous meetings with UK Ministers and been in regular correspondence with them to convey, in the strongest possible terms, the Government's total opposition to the Sellafield operations, including the MOX plant. I have raised the profile of the Government's anti-nuclear policy at every available opportunity on the international front such as at the EU, at the International Energy Agency, at the OSPAR Commission and at the United Nations in New York. I have also developed links with like-minded countries, in particular with a number of the nordic countries who have similar concerns about radioactive discharges from the Sellafield reprocessing plant.
Despite these efforts, the Sellafield plant continues in operation. However, there have been a number of positive developments, notably the adoption in 1998 by the contracting parties to the OSPAR Convention of a Strategy on Radioactive Substances. This strategy commits the contracting parties to the convention, which include the UK, to the virtual elimination of radioactive discharges to the marine environment by the year 2020. Ireland was very much to the fore in the development of this strategy at OSPAR. Its adoption by the OSPAR Ministers was a vindication of Ireland's efforts throughout the OSPAR process. The adoption of the strategy was also a recognition of the concerns raised by Ireland and a number of other countries about the impact of radioactive discharges from nuclear reprocessing plants on public health and the environment.
The Government will continue its battle against the Sellafield plant and to strongly resist any expansion of the operations at the plant.
With specific regard to the Sellafield MOX plant, I would refer the Deputies to my response to a number of recent Dáil Questions, in particular Dáil Questions Nos. 41 and 52 of 17 October and Dáil Question No. 198 of 13 November. In my response to those questions, I outlined the Government's contacts with the British Government since the latter's decision to give the go ahead to the plant and also the legal action under both the OSPAR Convention and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which the Government has embarked upon against the UK.
The House will be aware that pending a full hearing of Ireland's case under UNCLOS which should be heard next year, Ireland requested the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to order legally binding interim measures which would have the effect of an injunction on the UK to stop the commissioning of the MOX plant and associated shipments of nuclear materials. This request was heard by the tribunal last week and the outcome of the hearing will be known on 3 December.
The legal action under the OSPAR Convention which is aimed at procuring detailed economic information about the Mox plant is proceeding on schedule. A preparatory meeting which will involve the OSPAR Tribunal's arbitrators will take place next month and a full hearing will take place next year.
The Government is also finalising consideration of possible legal action against the UK under EU law in regard to the MOX plant. As consideration of legal action on this front is not yet complete, I cannot comment, at this stage, on the nature of any such action.
Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 49.
