Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 789: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the existence of a nuclear safety section in his Department; the terms of reference; the number of staff and the grade in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28691/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The nuclear safety section of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has the important mandate, as when it operated previously from the Department of Public Enterprise, of leading the development of national policy, legislation and regulation in respect of nuclear safety; participating in international co-operation arrangements at EU and other international levels for nuclear safety; representing Ireland in the further development of the arrangements; co-ordinating and implementing action by Ireland, including legal actions, against the risks posed to Ireland by nuclear operations in other jurisdictions, particularly by the Sellafield plant; and supporting the work of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Since the transfer of the responsibilities to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in June 2002, the nuclear safety section has operated within the Department's environment division, which comprises one principal officer, three assistant principal officers, one administrative officer, two higher executive officers, one executive officer, one staff officer and two clerical officers.