Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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We will now consider the topic of existing and proposed nuclear power plants in the United and Ireland and their implications for Ireland. I welcome from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland Dr. Ann McGarry, chief executive officer; Dr. Kevin Kelleher and Dr. Ciara McMahon. Go raibh maith agaibh as bheith i láthair. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise that the opening statement and any other document submitted to the committee may be published on its website after the meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Obviously the location of power plants on the west coast of Britain is of great interest to us and on occasion has worried Irish people. Therefore, we are entitled, in the wider context of the debate on British nuclear policy, to express our concerns and fears, even though we are not in the same jurisdiction. As we are near neighbours, there are many issues of concern to us. Nuclear power is not our chosen route of energy generation. Therefore, the majority of Irish people probably agree with our policy on nuclear energy. The effects of accidents at nuclear power plants are strong in people's minds, particularly those who live on the east coast.

A number of years ago, a documentary on RTE - it was a kind of docudrama, for want of a better description - dealt with the possible fall-out and implications for Ireland of an accident at Sellafield. Perhaps Dr. McGarry might take that into consideration in her contribution and in our exchanges. If such an accident took place, what could we do here? I am reminded of the infamous political interview about iodine tablets a number of years ago. I presume our thinking about how we would react has moved on since then. How are we equipped to deal with the fall-out from a nuclear accident? Dr. McGarry might bear those questions in mind in her contributions. We would like to hear her views.