Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My second question relates to an Adjournment matter that I raised with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, on 17 April. I ask the Leader to comment on the Government's response to the development of an extensive nuclear power facility at Hinkley Point, Somerset, in the UK. I congratulate An Taisce on its legal challenge in the UK courts. I seek a debate and clarification of whether Ireland was consulted about the issue. Whatever any of us might think about nuclear power, I question the legality of the consultation process and the UK Government's lack of formal consultation with the Irish Government. I have written to the Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht about the matter. I call on the Government to publish the terms of reference and scope of the assessment of Hinkley Point by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. The power plant would be around 150 miles from Ireland and our most densely populated east coast. The facility will be as close to many Irish people as it will be to UK residents. For many Irish citizens, nuclear power facilities cause serious concern regarding risks to their health, the environment and the economy, particularly the fishing, agriculture and tourism industries and essential indigenous industries upon which Ireland relies. The House need not be reminded of the long-standing concerns, issues and documented records of accidents and discharges into the Irish Sea from the UK's nuclear facility at Windscale, which was rebranded as Sellafield. It is worrying that even though Dublin and Wexford are closer to Hinkley Point than London or Glasgow, the Irish public were informed about the matter only after An Taisce took its action. Therefore, I call on the Government to publish the RPII's assessment of Hinkley Point as soon as possible and ask that the Irish Government be formally consulted about the development of the 3,260 MW nuclear power plant.