Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil has a responsibility in this matter, whether it likes it or not. We all know about Fianna Fáil's historic mismanagement of the public finances, to put it diplomatically, and where that got the people of this country.

I am extremely concerned to learn from residents in north Louth of plans from an agency operating on behalf of the UK Government to develop a site for nuclear waste in the Mourne Mountains.My understanding of international law as it applies to environmental or nuclear matters is that the Irish Government must be informed, notified and consulted in respect of a project of this nature. The Northern Ireland Executive is not meeting at the moment and the UK is using that as an opportunity to create a dumping ground for nuclear waste in south Down and south Armagh, both of which border my constituency of Louth. I appeal to the Government to take this matter seriously and to inform this House as to whether it has been notified and consulted about it. I also call on the Government to oppose this project with might and main. We all understand the environmental, waste management and health consequences of an issue such this but given the volatile situation in Northern Ireland in the context of Brexit and the possible threat from dissident republicans, we also need to be cognisant of the security issues at play here. We must make it very clear that this House opposes any moves to introduce a nuclear waste disposal facility on the island of Ireland.