Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2004
20 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made during the Irish Presidency in regard to the proposed Council directive setting out basic obligations and general principles on the safety of nuclear installations and on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22593/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring its Presidency of the European Union, Ireland actively sought to progress towards the adoption of these two directives. The two proposed directives comprised a Council directive setting out basic obligations and general principles on the safety of nuclear installations and a Council directive on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Taken together the proposals were known as the nuclear safety package.
In chairing the European Council's Atomic Questions Working Group, Ireland sought to find a sound consensus on the package to facilitate its adoption at the earliest opportunity. While a number of member states, including Ireland, favoured the adoption of these EU directives, a blocking minority were opposed to the principle of a legal instrument. Despite intensive efforts on the part of the Presidency to find unanimous agreement in the group for the adoption of the package in the form of directives, the group was unable to reach a consensus in that regard.
The Council of the European Union, at a meeting on 28 June 2004, adopted conclusions on nuclear safety and on the safety of the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. These conclusions reaffirmed the commitment of the Community and its member states to a high level of nuclear safety and to the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. The Council also stated that it would return to this matter in a timely manner.
The European Commission has now put forward amended proposals for a Council directive laying down basic obligations and general principles on the safety of nuclear installations and for a Council directive on the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. It is envisaged that these new proposals will be discussed in the atomic questions working group in due course.
