Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if and when his Department intends to draw up a risk analysis of the world's nuclear plants to assess the plants which pose the greatest risk to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4001/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not propose at present to draw up a risk analysis of nuclear power plants world-wide.

There are various international bodies which work to ensure that nuclear power plants throughout the world comply with strict safety standards. These bodies include the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, the Nuclear Energy Agency, NEA, and the European Union, EU. The operation of a nuclear power plant is regulated by the national competent authority of the country on whose territory the plant is located. It is regulated in accordance with safety standards laid down by the competent authority and having regard also to international safety standard requirements, notably those of the IAEA which are regularly updated.

In addition, in the context of the recent enlargement of the EU, particular requirements in regard to nuclear safety were imposed on those acceding countries with nuclear installations. These requirements followed a review by an EU working party on nuclear safety, made up of technical experts from the EU national regulatory authorities which included the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, of the safety standards applied in the accession countries. The relevant accession countries were required, where deemed necessary, to upgrade safety standards in their nuclear power plants to western European standards, or, where this is not possible, to close down the plants.

The Convention on Nuclear Safety, adopted under the aegis of the IAEA, establishes a legal obligation on the part of the contracting parties to the convention to apply certain general safety principles to nuclear power plants under their jurisdiction. The parties to the convention are also required to submit a report to the IAEA every three years on the steps they are taking to implement the obligations of the convention. These national reports are discussed and reviewed at a peer review meeting of the contracting parties convened every three years by the IAEA. This peer review process allows each party the opportunity to discuss and question, as appropriate, the national reports submitted by the other parties. Ireland will be participating in the next peer review meeting which will take place in April 2005.

Given their proximity to Ireland, the nuclear facilities in the UK, notably the Sellafield plant and also the power generating plant at Wylfa in North Wales, would pose the most immediate threat to Ireland in the event of a major accident or incident having the potential for a major release of radioactivity affecting Ireland. There are regular contacts at ministerial level between Ireland and the UK, particularly regarding Sellafield, which the Irish Government regards as posing the greatest risk because of the multiplicity of operations carried on there. In addition, there are regular contacts at official level with the UK involving my Department and the RPII.

As the House will be aware, Ireland has in place a national emergency plan for nuclear accidents designed to ensure an effective and swift response to any such accident or incident at a nuclear installation abroad. Ireland also has in place a formal bilateral agreement with the UK in regard to early notification and exchange of information in the event of a major nuclear accident or radiological emergency occurring in either country. There are also internationally managed early warning notification systems in place whereby, through the IAEA and the EU Commission as appropriate, states are notified promptly of a major accident or incident.

Ireland regularly participates in meetings held by relevant international organisations such as the IAEA, the NEA and the EU in order to be informed of developments in nuclear safety and security and to influence developments in those areas. Overall, therefore, given the measures in place both at national and international level for regulating and overseeing safety in nuclear power plants, it would not be my Department's intention to carry out a risk analysis of nuclear facilities worldwide.