Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 570: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are health concerns in relation to Sellafield nuclear plant and cases of leukaemia here. [28141/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I am aware of general concern in relation to the threat of an incident or accident at Sellafield which would affect the health and safety of the people of this island; however, I am not aware of any grounds for concern in relation to this plant and cases of leukaemia in Ireland.

Figures produced by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland do not indicate an elevated incidence of leukaemia in those counties which are closest to Sellafield.

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has responsibility for measuring the levels of radioactivity in foodstuffs and the environment and to assess the significance of these levels for the Irish population. The data presented from these measurements indicate that the levels of radioactivity in the Irish environment — and in fish caught in the Irish Sea — are extremely low and do not pose a significant risk to health.

The RPII continues to monitor the exposure of people living in Ireland to all relevant sources of ionising radiation.