Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the discussions he has had with the British authorities in regard to the recent disclosure that 30 kg of plutonium are unaccounted for at the Sellafield nuclear plant; if he has sought an explanation from the British authorities as to the way in which this material could be mislaid; if steps are being taken to locate and secure the material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11057/05]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the nature of assurances he received from British Nuclear Fuel Limited and the British Government regarding media reports of unaccounted plutonium at its facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11035/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 122 together.

On 17 February last, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, British Nuclear Fuels plc and Urenco (Capenhurst) Limited published details of the nuclear materials balance arising from the use of plutonium and-or uranium in their civil nuclear programmes during 2003 and 2004. Publication of these figures is a voluntary industry practice in the UK introduced in 1977 and repeated annually.

I have previously reported to the House on the improved co-operation and information exchange mechanisms put in place between the Irish and UK Governments on radiological matters arising from discussions under the terms of the UNCLOS provisional measures award. In accordance with these improved co-operation measures, I directed my officials to raise this matter with the UK authorities in order to establish the position regarding media reports to the effect that 30 kg of plutonium material had been "lost" or had"disappeared" at Sellafield.

Arising from these contacts with the UK Administration I understand that, in the figures published, some 30 kg of plutonium has been attributed as "Material Unaccounted For". This term represents the difference between measured stock and the book account. I received assurances from the UK Government that the figures in this case related to a "book" discrepancy arising from measurement uncertainties and that there is no evidence to suggest that any of the apparent losses reported are real losses of nuclear material. It is not unusual for the accounting process to indicate material unaccounted for and it can have a positive or negative value.

The figures published relate to 2003 and 2004 and have all been reported to EURATOM and the International Atomic Energy Agency under the UK's various nuclear safeguards obligations. I understand that the figures returned are not the subject of further inquiry by these bodies and that they are all within international standards of expected measurement accuracies for closing a nuclear balance at the type of facility concerned.

The British Government does not believe the figures have any implications for the state of security at Sellafield. It has emphasised that nuclear materials are protected at all times and levels of security at nuclear sites are very high. All sites are required to comply with a security plan approved by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security and the measures taken exceed international requirements in this area. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is currently reviewing the information available. Should high level action be indicated arising from their review of the information available on this matter, I will raise any matters arising directly with my ministerial counterparts in the UK.

On behalf of the Government, I will continue on a bilateral basis with the UK to articulate the concerns and protect the interests of Irish citizens in regard to nuclear reprocessing which gives rise to plutonium stocks and ensure these views are articulated consistently and cogently at relevant international fora such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union.