Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 9, after line 41, to insert the following:
“Establishment and functions of the Office of Radiological Protection
15. (1) The Office of Radiological Protection shall be established by this Agency within its organisational structure.(2) Management and direction of the Office of Radiological Protection shall be the responsibility of the person who becomes a director of the Agency under section 14(1).
(3) The Agency shall ensure that all functions transferred to the Agency under section 6(1) shall be administered from and carried out by the Office of Radiological Protection.”.

This amendment was tabled for many of the reasons Members sought to have radiological protection reflected in the name of the agency. Its purpose is to ensure that in the submerging of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, into the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the functions, operation and effectiveness of the body effectively will continue as it was. I note that all Members are referring to this as a merger but it is in fact a submerging rather than a merger of the RPII into the EPA. It will be only one of a number of functional areas or departments operating within that body.
In addition, it is important that the administration of radiological protection should continue with minimal disruption and should be as uninterrupted as possibly can be achieved within this body. Unfortunately, the Bill does not contain statutory underpinning of what previously was an independent body. It also is fair to note that in most European countries, radiological protection is the remit of a stand-alone independent body. Ireland is going in a somewhat different direction than previously and as a consequence, Members must be cautious as to the effects and implications this will have on the operation of those functions. This amendment would give statutory underpinning to the office of radiological protection within the EPA. This appears to be a sensible approach that would ensure there will not be chopping and changing within the organisation, which tends to happen within larger organisations, often to the diminution of the import of the particular focus Members have here on the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. The Minister of State might have noticed that no one is talking about the EPA being affected by this proposal, as it is not. The real concern is whether the smaller body, which has a singular focus, will have its remit diluted to the detriment of the health and protection of civil society. The Minister of State is very familiar with the risks attached to nuclear fallout from Sellafield. Yesterday, Members discussed in this Chamber a controversy that erupted some years ago when a predecessor of the Minister of State found that the system for protecting people, namely, the distribution of iodine tablets and so on, was insufficient. That was exposed in a radio interview and unfortunately, I am unsure whether the checks and balances that must be in place within such systems will not be somewhat diluted by joining together these bodies, rather than having them function separately.
While, as I stated earlier, we accept the merger in principle, this amendment provides some statutory protection to the operation of that function within the larger EPA. This would only enhance the operation and a highly respected remit has been built up within this area. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland was recognised internationally as a fairly effective body in this field. Consequently, I ask the Minister of State to accept this amendment in the interests of ensuring that what I think is our shared objective will be met. I do not believe the Minister of State has a justifiable reason for not accepting the amendment and not agreeing to it, if he wishes to meet the assurances he gave, which I accept fully were genuine. This is a way of ensuring it is not simply a transitory assurance given in the House by somebody who could have a different portfolio next week but will be met. I urge the Minister of State to accept this amendment.