Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 8 together.

I met the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alistair Darling, in London on 9 January last. I have no plans for a further meeting with him before the end of the current Dáil session — I say that without smiling.

My meeting with the Secretary of State focused on issues relating to Sellafield and, in particular, the THORP plant. I made very clear to the Secretary of State the extent of the Government's concerns regarding Sellafield. I strongly underlined our view that the operations there are uneconomic, environmentally damaging and have a particularly poor track record in safety. I also emphasised our particular concerns regarding THORP, which has been closed for nearly two years following a serious leak. I impressed upon the Secretary of State the Government's strong view that the operating life of THORP should not be extended and called upon the UK Government to undertake an international expert peer review of the safety case prior to the reopening of the THORP plant. The response of the UK Secretary of State to this proposal was, regrettably, less than positive.

I also advised the Secretary of State that while energy policy and supply was a matter for each individual State to decide, adverse consequences have arisen for Ireland as a result of nuclear policy decisions and actions taken by the UK in the past. I pointed out to him that while the outcome of the energy review was supportive of new build, it was noticeably silent on the issue of reprocessing. Clearly, continued discharges and ongoing safety concerns have been a feature of Sellafield reprocessing operations and if reprocessing is to become a feature of proposed new build then this would be of major concern to Ireland. As stakeholders, we have a right to have our concerns taken into account.

These issues had been highlighted in a written submission by my Department to the consultation process put in place by the UK Government prior to the publication of the energy review. At present, the position of the UK Government is that subject to the reopening of THORP in the near future, existing reprocessing contracts will be completed in 2010. In addition, I have been informed there are no plans to seek new contracts. I also took the opportunity to make clear to the UK Government that any proposal for additional contracts for reprocessing at Sellafield would be opposed by the Government. From my contacts with other governments in Europe, in the European Union and outside it, this would also be opposed vigorously by other governments. Mechanisms for intergovernmental notification and co-operation between the Irish and UK Governments have been greatly improved and a series of co-operative measures were developed, agreed and put in place. That is to the credit of the UK Government.

These measures are working well and represent considerable added value to the co-operative relationship to which Ireland is entitled on matters relating to nuclear issues and Sellafield in particular. These co-operative measures include the bilateral agreement on early notification of a nuclear incident, direct access to the UK radiation monitoring system, known as RIMNET, access for the Garda Síochána to Sellafield, access for the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to Sellafield and other nuclear facilities, significantly improved information exchanges, co-operation on emergency planning with the UK and improved contacts at regulator and official level for discussion of nuclear issues.

I have little doubt that the diplomatic and legal initiatives of the Government on Sellafield have resulted in the greatly increased recognition by the British Government and its agencies of the priority accorded to the issue by the Irish Government. While there remains a significant difference in views on this issue between the two Governments, I am confident that my meeting with Secretary of State Darling served to highlight the Government's ongoing commitment to securing the safe and orderly closure of the Sellafield plant.

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