Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has had contact with his British counterpart regarding the higher than normal levels of radiation measured at the Sellafield nuclear plant in January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10964/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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On 31 January 2014, elevated levels of radioactivity were detected at one of the many radiation monitors at the Sellafield site. Following the detection, as a precautionary measure, a decision was taken by the Sellafield site management to have only essential workers report for work, while a thorough investigation was completed. Levels of radioactivity subsequently detected were well below that which would call for any further actions to be taken on or off the site. At no stage was there was any risk to the public or to the workforce nor were there any radiological implications for Ireland.

In keeping with agreed protocols, my Department was informed of the elevated detection reading by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change early in the morning of 31 January, with updates received throughout the day. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) was also contacted and kept appraised by its counterparts in the UK Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Sellafield Ltd subsequently confirmed that the elevated radioactivity levels detected by one of their in-air monitors were not attributable to any issue or problem with any of their operations on-site but were caused by naturally occurring background radon.

As this incident was relatively minor and acknowledging the high level of information sharing between our two Departments, I did not consider it necessary to contact my UK counterpart directly on this occasion. However, I was kept informed by my Department on the status and outcome of the incident.