Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:5 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his visit to Oileán Mhanainn (The Isle of Man). [11529/03]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Official Engagements.
I visited the Isle of Man on 14 April at the invitation of the Chief Minister, Mr. Richard Corkhill. I also met with the Chief Secretary, Ms Mary Williams; the President of Tynwald, Mr. Noel Cringle; the Speaker of the House of Keys, the Honourable Tony Brown; and former Chief Minister, Sir Miles Walker. I visited Castle Rushen, which is one of the Isle of Man's biggest tourist attractions, where I met Mr. Martin Moore, Chairman of Manx National Heritage and Mr. Stephen Harrison, Director of Manx National Heritage. Later, I addressed the Euroclub on Ireland's experience of membership of the European Union.
I welcome the fact that the Taoiseach has met Mr. Corkhill and that among the discussions was a focus regarding the operation of Sellafield and the transportation of nuclear cargoes through the Irish Sea, something that affects both our shores. Perhaps he might advise us of the substance of that discussion. Did he, in the course of his meeting with Mr. Corkhill, invite the Tynwald to join with the Irish Government in its current pressing through legal channels of issues regarding the Sellafield reprocessing plant in Cumbria? Did he invite the Isle of Man Government to join with the Irish Government in the matter? Sellafield is of great concern to the Isle of Man's citizenry. Did the Taoiseach discuss or consider making a joint decision on this pressing issue?
This visit to the Isle of Man was based on looking at some of the Irish-Isle of Man cultural issues. The particular purpose of the invitation from Mr. Corkhill was to address the Euroclub on our membership of the European Union. Most of my discussions were based on European issues but, because Mr. Corkhill and others are members of the British-Irish Council, we discussed other issues on which the Isle of Man is taking a lead. We have continued to keep the Isle of Man, the Nordic countries and Iceland fully briefed on our legal actions. They have not joined with us in those actions but we have received support in some of our cases and initiatives. However, the cases are effectively being run and funded by Ireland.
Will the Taoiseach contemplate inviting the Isle of Man Administration to join with the Irish Government in pressing this matter in a more collaborative way? What methods are being employed by the Isle of Man Government to monitor pollution of the Irish Sea by the Sellafield plant in Cumbria and the THORP reprocessing plant?
The Deputy is going beyond the remit of his question.
This relates to the Taoiseach's meeting with the Government of the Isle of Man and Mr. Corkhill in particular. Regarding the ongoing traffic, not just of nuclear fuels being brought to the THORP reprocessing plant, but British naval manoeuvres in the Irish Sea and the recently reported incident of HMS Tireless, a nuclear submarine—
That question would be more appropriate for the Minister responsible for this area.
We would have shared concerns with the Isle of Man Administration about a nuclear catastrophe as a result of a so-called mishap with one of these clapped-out nuclear submarines—
The Deputy's question would be more appropriate for the Minister responsible.
Will the Taoiseach address that matter? Has he done so? Is his Department or Government in contact with the Isle of Man Administration in this regard?
I cannot say if the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was in touch on that particular issue but, as Deputy Ó Caoláin acknowledged, we are working closely with all the countries in the British-Irish group on this, and with the Isle of Man in particular. Mr. Corkhill has visited us but I do not think they are going to join us in any action against the United Kingdom. That would not be their position but they take a keen interest in this issue and follow both of the cases we are taking. We discussed some of the issues raised by the Deputy but I do not want to express my views on what Mr. Corkhill said as it is for him to answer those questions. However, he is following both the Irish Sea issues and the actions we are taking. We will continue to work with him on these.