Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Deputy's latter point and I have taken steps in that direction. I have taken a number of opportunities to establish cross-community activity within the European Council of Environment Ministers. I spoke to almost all the other Environment Ministers in Europe, especially those who do not have nuclear plants. I recently convened a meeting in Dublin that was attended by Minister Pröll from Austria, colleagues from Iceland, Norway and the parliamentary secretary from Germany. A declaration was signed at the end of that meeting, which could not be signed by Germany as it holds the Presidency of the EU.

There are concerns in Germany. It is now trying to withdraw from nuclear power and we must start listening to that. Iceland seems a long way from Sellafield but its Prime Minister has echoed precisely the concerns we have about the THORP plant. This is a diplomatic initiative that should be pursued and I am grateful to the Deputy for his support in this. I am grateful also to Deputy O'Dowd who has always been supportive of any initiative in this regard.

The Austrian Minister, Mr. Pröll, has indicated that he will follow up the Dublin initiative with a further meeting to be held in Vienna in the early part of the summer. I am aware from contacts with colleagues in Norway and Iceland that discussions on this issue will take place on the margins of the next meeting of Environment Ministers in the Nordic Council. There will be difficulties to confront given that, regrettably, Finland has become involved in a nuclear build and Sweden is somewhat conflicted on the issue.

As I said at a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government, I have taken the opportunity to raise my concerns, which are shared by everybody in this House, at the manner in which the British have responded on the health issue and particularly on the question of an expert peer review. For example, I raised this matter recently with Dr. El Baradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who indicated he would communicate our concerns to the British authorities.

The energy mix employed by any individual country is a matter for that country. However, no state can be cavalier in terms of cross-boundary issues and the long-term effects and impacts of nuclear power.

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