Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I better put on the record that I am very much against nuclear energy as a solution to climate change. There are other areas around climate change where we could resolve this issue.

What does the RPII believe are the advantages to a merger from the Government’s point of view? Professor William Reville was re-appointed in January 2012 by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Were there any discussions or conditions attached about the possible merger or dissolution of RPII? If so, would that have given Professor Reville an opportunity to make his views known to the Minister? What was the Minister’s response then?

I take it the delegation is speaking on behalf of the board of the RPII and that a clear majority share the views we have heard today. It is unclear from the Bill as to the role of the chief executive officer of the RPII. Is it the case that the chief executive officer becomes a director from the period of dissolution to 30 April 2016? Is there a certain expertise at senior executive level to be lost with the possible merger with the EPA?

The RPII published a major document on the proposed new nuclear power plants in the UK. I attended a briefing here when it was launched a while ago. My concern with the possible merger is the RPII’s role to provide advice to the Government on matters relating to radiological safety. When the UK Government decided to proceed with the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, there was no formal consultation process, particularly on the transboundary effect in that the Hinkley site is only 150 miles from Dublin. The Minister claimed he had consultations with UK Ministers on this. What role did the RPII play in that consultation process? What is its view on a transboundary screening exercise being done in advance of a decision being taken to build another nuclear power station at Hinkley?