Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of mox shipments to and from Sellafield in 2006, which passed through the Irish Sea, and which he was notified of on a confidential basis; if he has satisfied himself that the figure is true; and if the Navy monitored the shipments at his request. [13247/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Mixed Oxide (MOX) Plant at Sellafield utilises plutonium, separated during reprocessing of spent fuel for foreign customers at Sellafield, and returns it, predominantly by sea, to those customers in the form of MOX fuel for use in their nuclear reactors.

Such shipments of radioactive material are subject to international maritime regulations including the right of innocent passage and to strict international safety standards applicable to the marine transport of such material.

The continuing concerns of the Irish Government in relation to all transports of radioactive material through the Irish Sea are regularly and repeatedly conveyed to the UK Government at Ministerial and official level. Ireland also co-operates on this issue with like minded coastal States at international fora such as the International Atomic Energy Agency. Our concerns relate to safety, security and environmental risk from a potential accident or incident.

Arising from our efforts over the years, information is made available to Ireland on a voluntary and confidential basis by the Governments of shipping States, principally, Japan, France and the UK, in relation to shipments of radioactive material including MOX fuel. The Irish Government in response makes clear that such shipments are unwelcome, and seeks and obtains assurances from shipping States that such shipments will not enter Irish territorial waters and that they comply with the stringent system of regulation established in line with internationally agreed standards and practices.

During 2006, there were two shipments of MOX fuel from Sellafield. In accordance with normal practice, information was made available to Ireland regarding each of these shipments. The information received was made available to the relevant Government Authorities including the Coast Guard Service. It is a matter for the Coast Guard Service to determine and carry out any monitoring or other requirements in respect of these shipments. The Coast Guard has access to Naval resources (and other resources of the State) as and when required to address operational requirements on a case by case basis.

The arrangements whereby information is made available to Ireland on a voluntary and confidential basis by the Governments of shipping States, including the UK, are long standing and welcome. There is no reason to doubt the veracity of the information made available on a Government to Government basis to Ireland under this process.