Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the further debate in the House on this very important issue. I want to give a reassurance, which Senators on all sides are entitled to and the Government is obliged to give, that there is no diminution in the functions or the powers of the RPII, which will be the same as previously. There is no difference. The point is that in recognition of its extremely important role in that area, there will be a new division within the EPA, which is the radiological division. In other words, all the correspondence, statutory powers and functions remain the same but are located within a broader framework in terms of the Environmental Protection Agency.
It was believed that a more efficient and economic means of merging the two was to dissolve one and transfer all of its functions, staff and assets to the other rather than dissolving both and creating a completely new entity with a new name or whatever. This approach requires significantly simpler legislation, and incurs fewer costs and less potential disruption to service delivery. It makes it easier to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the functions of both agencies. That is why the decision was made. The merger will not result in any diminution of our commitment to protection.
If there was a radiological incident at, say, Sellafield and there was fallout over our country, the EPA and the RPII would be actively engaged in dealing with that. They would both have roles to play. For instance, it would be very important to monitor drinking water, the soil and air quality. Those are functions the RPII would have to ask somebody else to do because it does not do that, although it would have to be involved in reading the results and explaining them to people. The key point is that the change is not to its function. There will be a new synergy because if an issue arises that has to be dealt with urgently, all the skills needed will be in the one unit.
The Government, the RPII and the EPA have been proactive in making sure that this merger is done efficiently and is as seamless as possible. There is a project management group and a project working group, which has representatives of both organisations, as well as the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Both groups have met on a monthly basis to ensure that the merger is seamless in terms of administration, human resources, finance, accommodation, corporate governance and environmental functions and operations.
Sub-groups on this legislation were also set up. Both agencies have provided inputs to the development of the principles and policies of this Bill. Meetings have taken place between board members of the RPII and senior Department officials. There has been correspondence on the issue also. The aim of all of that is to get the amalgamation in operation before the summer, an issue that arose yesterday. The sooner it happens, the better in terms of the financial organisation, the new synergies with regard to human resources and so on.
This Bill will repeal and amend all the relevant enactments and statutory instruments to ensure that the EPA has all the powers to assume the radiological protection role. All of the current functions are transferring so there is no change in that regard. There will be a new division within the EPA, which I believe will meet all of the needs and address the points made.
Senator Mullen raised a number of points. I assure him that he need have no worries because there is consultation and involvement. He mentioned the eminent Professor Reville who is highly respected and regularly writes articles for The Irish Timesand scientific journals. His views are respected and acknowledged but in the context of the day to day administration and looking at all the issues involved, including the capacity of the State to respond to issues, the new synergies, all the powers transferring and they roles they had the day before, which they will have the day after, I hope we have given reassurance. I ask the Senator to consider that point.