Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I am proposing two options, the first of which is to bring Private Members' Business forward. The second option is to debate, without a Minister in the House, the opinion released by the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration yesterday. There is all-party support for the Government's role in demanding better consultation with the UK Government in relation to Sellafield. I would like to make a direct proposal to the Leader. She knows from her work with the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body that the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, the statutory agency which deals with nuclear safety, has an immediate right to act as an observer at Sellafield and give impartial and independent evidence to the Irish people on a daily or weekly basis, as it sees fit. The Leader knows that the International Atomic Energy Agency is already present at Sellafield. I ask the Government to demand that the UK Government grant observer status at Sellafield to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland immediately in order that it can issue its report to the Government and the people, as it sees fit.

I ask for the Leader's support for either of my proposals relating to two issues that can be debated earlier in the day.