Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will mark the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl next month by urging his EU counterparts to reject the growing dependence on nuclear power which remains unsafe as evidenced by recent events in Japan. [5320/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Ireland recognises the right of States to determine their own energy mix, including whether or not to develop nuclear power. It is our expectation that, where a State chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this will be done in line with the highest international standards with respect to safety and environmental protection. Safety must be the first priority for all existing or planned nuclear facilities.

At the European Council meeting on 24/25 March last, EU leaders agreed that, in light of the incident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan which followed the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March, the safety of all nuclear plants in the EU should be reviewed on the basis of a comprehensive and transparent risk and safety assessment.

It is important that these assessments are conducted rigorously and transparently at all nuclear plants and that any actions required on the basis of their results in order to improve nuclear safety are carried out. States with nuclear power industries must ensure that full account is taken of the lessons learned from the very serious situation in Japan, and that the assessments they conduct result in a strengthening of safety where necessary at all nuclear facilities.