4th December 2001

PRESS RELEASE 

GREEN PARTY CALLS FOR DÚN LAOGHAIRE COUNTY MANAGER TO VOICE CONCERNS ON SELLAFIELD ‘MOX’ PLANT

Councillor Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party has given a guarded welcome to the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on the Sellafield Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX) plant. In the light of the decision he has called for Local Authorities to become involved in the consultation process.

“The Tribunal said that there must be co-operation and consultation between the UK and Ireland,” stated Ciarán Cuffe. “Local Authorities should be part of this process. I believe the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Manager should make our views known to the British Government that we are not happy with the start-up of the plant and the emergency plan arrangements.

“Why leave the emergency planning to Minister Joe Jacob” argued Councillor Cuffe yesterday. “I feel that Local Authorities should make their views known directly to both the British Government and British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL). After all, it is the Local Authorities who would have to deal with the unthinkable consequences of a nuclear accident or terrorist attack at the MOX Plant.”

“I have written to the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Manager Derek Brady asking him to make our concerns known to the UK Government and British Nuclear Fuels.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe  087 265 2075 or 618 3082