Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1332: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on his efforts to have the Sellafield plant closed; if his attention has been drawn to the huge interest in this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1130/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the commitment in the agreed programme for Government, the policy of this Government is to bring about the safe and orderly closure of Sellafield. This is based on our concerns about the potential hazards arising from a nuclear accident or incident, the impacts of radioactive discharges on the marine environment, concerns about the generation, management and disposal of radioactive waste and the risk posed by the associated transport of radioactive materials through the Irish Sea.

The UK response to these concerns is that radioactive discharges from Sellafield pose no threat to human health or the environment, that the Sellafield plant and related transports are safe and secure and that the legacy wastes arising from the UK's nuclear programmes are being addressed through the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency.

Ongoing contact through correspondence and meetings at ministerial, official and expert level is being maintained with the UK authorities regarding a range of issues surrounding the Sellafield nuclear plant. These contacts are productive and reflect an increasing recognition by the UK Government of the serious concerns held by the Irish Government about Sellafield. There remains, however, a significant difference of views between the Irish and UK Governments regarding the continued operation of Sellafield.

The Government also initiated international legal proceedings against the UK under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, regarding the Sellafield MOX plant. The current position with the litigation by Ireland under UNCLOS is that the arbitration remains suspended pending resolution of jurisdictional issues in the dispute, which were raised by the European Commission. However, the tribunal in the case issued an order on 24 June 2003 after hearing an application by Ireland for provisional measures.

The provisional measures award and orders recommended that Ireland and the UK enter into dialogue to improve cooperation and consultation between the two governments and report to the tribunal on specified dates. The most recent report to the tribunal was submitted on schedule by both parties on 30 November 2004. In line with the obligation on both parties to improve cooperation and coordination arrangements, complex discussions, confidential to the tribunal and the parties pending outcomes, are at present continuing.

It was my stated intention to report on progress arising from this process at the appropriate instance and the signing of an agreement on notification and exchange of information arrangements between Ireland and the UK on 10 December 2004 afforded the two parties an opportunity to do so. The agreed package of measures announced is designed to address a wide range of issues related to nuclear safety and includes, inter alia, the facilitating of visits to Sellafield by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the Garda Síochána, provision of access for the institute to the UK's radiation monitoring system and a series of initiatives to develop and improve existing co-operation arrangements between both Governments.

As well as contacts with ministerial colleagues, my officials and scientific experts from the institute continue to meet their UK counterparts on a regular basis, during which Ireland's concerns regarding operations at Sellafield are raised. Such contacts continue to be productive. However, there remains a significant difference of views about operations at Sellafield. The UK response to concerns raised by Ireland is that operations at Sellafield are safe and do not adversely impact on the environment. This Government holds a significantly different view and has at every opportunity expressed these views directly to the UK Government and its relevant authorities at all levels. The Government will continue to explore further options regarding to Sellafield as they become available.

I am aware of the deep public interest in this area and I will continue to highlight Ireland's concerns on Sellafield and the nuclear industry generally to my UK ministerial counterparts.