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Dáil Éireann - Volume 494 - 30 September, 1998

Written Answers - Radioactive Discharges.

[394] 238. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise whether she has satisfied herself that the OSPAR Resolution, agreed earlier this year, is as much as can be achieved in terms of reducing the threat that Sellafield poses to the health and welfare of people living in this country in view of the accidents that have occurred at Sellafield even since the OSPAR meeting; whether she will use every opportunity to make the case for the plant to be closed down or decommissioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17243/98]

239. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will outline the information available to her Department which would help define the naturally occurring background level of radiation in the Irish Sea, close to which level the authorities responsible for the operation of the Sellafield Nuclear Reprocessing Plant are required to bring discharges from the plant under the terms of the OSPAR Convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17244/98]

242. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will outline, in light of continuing concern about the safety of the nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield, the steps being pursued by her Department to have reprocessing cease at Sellafield and to have the plant closed or decommissioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17247/98]

254. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the contacts, if any, she has had with Minister Michael Meacher of the United Kingdom pursuant to his remarks in mid-July that the Government in Great Britain is prepared to consider closing the Sellafield Nuclear Reprocessing Plant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17265/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob): I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 239, 242 and 254 together.

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the UK nuclear industry, in particular Sellafield, has long been a source of grave concern to successive Irish Governments. This Government is totally committed in its opposition to the Sellafield operations and will continue to work towards a cessation of nuclear activities at the site.

Over the past 12 months, my Department has been involved in making a number of submissions to the UK Environment Agency in the context of public consultation processes held by the agency about Sellafield. On 16 March 1998, two separate submissions were forwarded to the agency detailing Ireland's concerns about an application from BNFL to the agency for a variation in the Sellafield Radioactive Discharge Authorisations and an application by BNFL to the agency to commission a mixed oxide fuel fabrication plant

[395] — MOX — at Sellafield. I am awaiting the decision on these crucial applications.

In the case of radioactive discharges, there was a very positive development in Portugal, in July, at the ministerial meeting of the OSPAR Commission, held to discuss the OSPAR Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. At the meeting, which I attended, the OSPAR Ministers adopted a strategy on radioactive substances which incorporates a commitment by the contracting parties to this convention to achieve close to zero radioactive discharges into the marine environment by the year 2020.

In effect, this means that the UK Government will be obliged to achieve close to zero discharges of radioactive substances into the Irish Sea by the year 2020. In keeping with this commitment, the UK authorities have requested BNFL to prepare “forward-looking” strategies for reducing discharges over the next twenty years.

As to the naturally occurring or “background” levels of radiation in the Irish Sea, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland — RPII — point out that the main pathway for radiation exposure is the consumption of seafood. The RPII's report on Radioactivity Monitoring of the Irish Marine Environment 1996 and 1997 concluded that a heavy fish consumer would receive 150 microsieverts in “background” radiation. This compared with 1.4 microsieverts radiation exposure to the same consumer originating from Sellafield discharges in 1997.

As a result of commitments made within OSPAR, artificial radionuclide concentrations in the Irish Sea will be close to zero by 2020, leading to a further reduction in the already comparatively small radiation exposure to a heavy fish consumer which is Sellafield originating. The progressive and substantial reduction of Sellafield's discharges between now and 2020 will have the added advantage that it will help to allay legitimate concerns about the impact of radioactive discharges. I believe that the positive commitments made have the potential to assist in the preservation of sea-based livelihoods which might otherwise be at risk due to contamination of the Irish Sea. The promotion of consumer confidence in seafood and sea produce and the use of the amenities of the Irish Sea should benefit from the OSPAR decisions.

The most recent contacts with Minister Meacher were during the meeting of OSPAR Ministers in Portugal. I found these discussions helpful in gaining an insight into current UK thinking about Sellafield and particularly the UK Government's wish to address public concerns about the impact of Sellafield discharges. I have no immediate plans to meet Minister Meacher in the near future but I await with interest the outcome of forthcoming decisions concerning the Sellafield discharge authorisations in the aftermath of OSPAR.

While I am pleased with the progress made at [396] OSPAR in relation to radioactive discharges, the agreement will not directly address our concerns about a number of the nuclear operations at Sellafield. Unfortunately, there is no evidence at present that the UK Government intend to close the Sellafield reprocessing plant. We will continue to highlight our concerns, both directly with the UK authorities and at relevant EU and international fora, about the continuation of reprocessing activities at Sellafield; the storage on-site of high level radioactive liquid waste; the operation of Magnox reactors beyond their design life and proposals for a MOX fuel manufacturing plant.

243. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will outline the information that has been provided to her Department by the regulatory authorities in Great Britain or directly by BNFL concerning the escape of radioactive material from the Sellafield plant on 3 August 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17248/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob): The incident to which the Deputy refers occurred on 3 August last in the mixed oxide fuel — MOX — demonstration facility at Sellafield. There was a minor release of radioactivity which was contained within the building.

The Radiological Protection Institute — RPII — received information early on 4 August last. The incident, which occurred in a laboratory in the MOX building, involved a torn protective glove in a glove box used for hazardous work. Radiation alarms were activated and personnel were evacuated from the immediate area. One person was found to have been contaminated and was sent to the site surgery for examination. Testing showed that there was no internal contamination and all external contamination was removed. Other personnel involved were monitored and everyone was found to be clear of contamination.

I have been assured by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland that the incident did not have any radiological consequences for Ireland. However, any such incident can give rise to public concern about the possibility of a nuclear accident which would affect us. My concerns about incidents at Sellafield will continue to form part of formal discussions between Irish and UK officials on nuclear safety matters.

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