Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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330. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the Government has been consulted by the UK Government or the nuclear power company NuGen as part of the stage two proposed scheme consultation for the proposed Moorside power station on land adjacent to the Sellafield site on the west Cumbrian coast, comprising three new nuclear reactors with up to 3.8 gigawatts capacity; and if so, his response in this regard. [22081/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been consulted by NuGen as part of the Stage Two Proposed Scheme Consultation for the proposed Moorside Power Station. My Department is currently co-ordinating a response to this in conjunction with relevant agencies, including the EPA’s Office of Radiological Protection and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Ireland’s established position is that, while not a nuclear energy producing country, we acknowledge the right of States to determine their own energy mix. However, we expect 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. In this regard, we maintain a close interest in relation to nuclear matters in neighbouring countries and in particular with our nearest neighbour, the United Kingdom.

The Office of Radiological Protection was requested by my Department to complete an assessment of the potential radiological impacts on Ireland from the UK nuclear new build programme. This assessment considered both routine operations and a range of postulated accident scenarios at the plants.

The report, published in May 2013, concluded that the routine operation of the proposed nuclear power plants will have no measurable radiological impact on Ireland or the Irish marine environment. This report is available to download at:

My Department maintains a close working relationship with our UK colleagues on nuclear matters, including through formal biannual meetings of the UK-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters. The UK new build programme is a standing item on the agenda of this Group, which includes policy makers and regulators from Ireland and the UK.