Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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244. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeframe for the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom; the way in which that will impact the Irish public; if he has made contact with his UK counterpart on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21233/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The decision of the UK Government to withdraw from the Euratom Treaty was confirmed on 26 January, 2017 on the publication of the Bill seeking Parliamentary approval to issue notification of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU. On the 30th of March, the UK published a White Paper entitled "Legislating for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union" which made clear that as part of the UK's Brexit plan it is intended that the Repeal Bill will reflect the decision to convert the "acquis" - the body of European legislation - into UK law at the moment that the European Communities Act is repealed.

Officials in my Department have engaged with the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation, through the UK-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters. This Group met on 27 April where the matter was discussed. Further discussions will be arranged as appropriate.

It is not foreseen that the UK's withdrawal from Euratom will have any impact on the Irish public. The UK remains a member of Euratom and the UK nuclear industry remains subject to oversight by the EU institutions until such time as their withdrawal from the EU is finalised, a process expected to take a number of years following notification.

I would also point out that the UK is a member of the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UK applies the strict international standards on nuclear safety and security laid down by the IAEA, and that will continue to be the case post Brexit.