Vol. 547 No. 3
163 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has received the RPII report which claims that radioactivity in the north east is 150 times greater than in other areas; the levels per county covered by the report; the action she proposes to take; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3425/02]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the recently published annual report and accounts of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, for the year 2000. Copies have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. The environmental monitoring chapter of the RPII report includes a section on radioactive contamination of the Irish marine environment. In the report, the RPII points out that in 2000 the highest level of technetium-99 concentrations in seaweed was 988 becquerels per kilogram, Bq/kg, wet, compared with 850 Bq/kg, wet, in 1999. The 2000 values, according to the RPII, are lower than the level of 1,675 Bq/kg, wet, recorded in 1998. The report also points out that the technetium-99 activities in seaweed from the south and west coasts were some 150 times lower than in seaweed from the north east coast. However, the level of technetium-99 in fish and shellfish continues to be very low and the RPII advises that from a radiological perspective it is safe to eat seafood landed at Irish fishing ports and to enjoy the amenities of the Irish maritime area. Technetium is one of several radioactive contaminants in the Irish Sea originating from Sellafield. Also, since the measurements referred to are in the sea, the question of per county data does not arise.
The Government views any contamination of the Irish marine environment arising from discharges of radioactive materials from the Sellafield plant as totally unacceptable and highly objectionable and has repeatedly called on the UK to cease such discharges. The Deputy will be aware that these concerns have prompted the Government to commence significant legal action under the OSPAR Convention and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and, if and as appropriate, EU law.
