Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 6: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to meet British Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Mr. Alistair Darling, before the end of the Dáil session; the measures he will take to outline the State's concerns regarding the outcome of the British energy review; the date of the proposed meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13464/07]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 8: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the result of representations and discussions with the British Government in regard to the continued operation of the Sellafield plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13443/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At the outset, I acknowledge the Minister's intervention with the British Secretary of State on this important issue and I ask him to keep at it. Does he accept that the British energy review will inevitably produce a whole chain of nuclear power plants? In turn, it is almost certain that this will feed in material for reprocessing at Sellafield and therein is the nub of the difficulty with the British energy review. Does he agree with that and the consequences it holds for the Irish people? Does the Minister accept that among the consequences for the Irish people will inevitably be an ever greater health risk to people on the eastern seaboard? Does he accept that cancer rates in my constituency of County Louth are currently running at 20% above the national average and one in five deaths is cancer related? There is no reasonable explanation for that. Is he concerned about the extraordinarily high death rate from cancer and incidences of cancer in the constituency?

Is the Minister considering the establishment of an environmental task force, perhaps in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, to establish once and for all what exactly is the cause of the high cancer rates? We would be delighted if Sellafield was not the cause because the problem might then be easier to solve. However, at the moment we believe that it is the cause of the problem.

I am delighted the Minister is raising this case with the British at every opportunity. I accept that he is enthusiastic in doing so. However, does he agree that it is not working? We need to join with the Nordic countries and others to form one European group to fight this scourge that is a plague on many countries in northern Europe as well as on our own country on the edge of Europe.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The subplot of this argument is the energy crisis in Britain, including security supply issues, Ukrainian gas and so on. The British are approaching this issue from a totally different perspective than we are. I agree that all parties in the House are ad idem in our opposition to nuclear power on our doorstep.

However, other arguments are being put forward by elements in the media, engineers and others. I do not agree with these arguments but we must confront them through a decisive debate. One of the arguments coming into play relates to carbon emissions and the carbon footprint of nuclear power versus traditional power sources. We must refute utterly in a sensible and logical way all the arguments in this regard. The first action we should take, whether in this Dáil or the next, is to arrange a round table debate at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government to facilitate a comprehensive discussion of all these issues.

My greatest fear is the prospect of a terrorist incident at Sellafield. Will the Minister bring to the attention of the IAEA our deep concerns in this regard and ask for its assistance? As an independent nation, we cannot obtain the information we seek from the United Kingdom. I understand the security issues in this regard. Does the Minister agree there is a role for the IAEA as an international policing force and as guarantor of our rights in this area?

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I fully agree there is a role for the IAEA. The EU also has a responsibility in this area. In addition to speaking with Dr. El Baradei, I have spoken on several occasions with Commissioners Dimas, Frattini and Piebalgs. The uniformity of views in this House is helpful in drawing their attention to our concerns.

I also agree with the Deputy that the nuclear lobby, which I regard as cynical and sinister, is using the issues relating to climate change and energy security as a means of scaremongering and encouraging a stampede back to nuclear power. After the accident at Three Mile Island, the entire build stopped. Unfortunately, however, there is now equivocation in some European states. As Deputy Morgan observed, it is a self-serving analysis that will lead Britain to decide to expand its nuclear power capacity.

We must be continually vigilant through the means available to us. I agree with Deputy O'Dowd that there is little we could do if a major incident took place at Sellafield. This is the issue we must keep bringing to the attention of the British. They have a moral responsibility in addition to their economic responsibilities. The Deputies are correct that the way forward is through more effective lobbying from the non-nuclear states in Europe.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On a point of order, when will Question Time finish?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At 4.30 p.m. We will get to the Deputy's question. I am keeping an eye on things to ensure we do not spend too long on other questions.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Thank you. I appreciate that.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Ceann Comhairle has mentioned his anxiety in respect of Deputy Gormley several times.