Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 627: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made on the commitment given in the programme for Government to continue to bring political, diplomatic and legal efforts to bear on the UK with a view to the safe decommissioning of the facilities at Sellafield. [17975/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland has long been concerned about the threat posed by the nuclear site at Sellafield. Our concerns in relation to the site have been consistently articulated to the UK Government at political, diplomatic and official levels.

In 2001, in response to the imminent commissioning of the MOX plant at the site, Ireland instituted legal proceedings against the UK under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Pending the hearing of the case, Ireland applied for and received a Provisional Measures Order, which ordered a review by Ireland and the UK of the mechanisms for inter-governmental notification and co-operation. Arising from this, a series of co-operative measures was developed, agreed and put in place.

These measures are valuable from Ireland's viewpoint, are working well and represent considerable and real added value to the necessarily co-operative relationship between Ireland and the UK. The Bi-Lateral Agreement on Early Notification of a Nuclear Incident, direct access to the UK Radiation Monitoring System (RIMNET), access for the Garda Siochana to Sellafield, access for the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) to Sellafield and other facilities, significantly improved information exchanges, co-operation on emergency planning with the UK, and improved and ongoing contacts at regulator and official level on nuclear issues, all provide objective evidence of real improvements.

The Government is continuing to pursue all political, diplomatic and where necessary and appropriate, legal options to secure the safe and orderly decommissioning of the Sellafield facility. I consider that the ongoing discussions between the two administrations in relation to Sellafield have resulted in increased recognition by the UK Government of the depth of Ireland's concerns about Sellafield and of the priority that is accorded to the issue by the Irish Government.

Ireland has supported and will continue to support efforts by the European Commission to develop an increased safety role within the European Nuclear Industry. Adoption of recent European Council Conclusions in regard to the establishment of the EU High Level Regulators Group is a significant development in the area of nuclear safety. In Ireland's view, the transboundary risks and impacts arising from nuclear installations should be fully reflected in the instruments, structures and institutions of the EU.

The policy and actions of this Government continue to reflect the firm position that Sellafield is an unacceptable threat to Ireland and that it should be closed in a safe and orderly manner.