Press Release: Environment   23 April 2006

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Dún Laoghaire, Environment and Justice Press Releases

23 April 2006

Green Party calls on Government to circulate National Emergency Plan

As Fallout documentary illustrates dangers of nuclear           accident at Sellafield

The Green Party has called on the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche TD to circulate a copy of the Government's 'National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents' to all households. The call comes as RTE screens the first instalment of the two party series 'Fallout' which graphically shows the effects that an explosion at the Sellafield Nuclear plant might have on Ireland.

Party Leader Trevor Sargent TD stated "Strand Three of the Good Friday Agreement provides for the British and Irish Governments to exchange information and consult on issues such as Sellafield. It is over a year since the British Irish Council last met to discuss environmental issues including Sellafield, and at that meeting on the 7th April 2005 a Discussion Paper on Sellafield and Radioactive Waste submitted by Ireland was deferred to a future meeting. Clearly the issue has not received adequate attention. The Taoiseach should be making this a higher priority". 

Environment Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD stated "It is revealing that the Government's information number 1890 443322 was either engaged or playing a recorded announcement this evening after the 'Fallout' programme was screened. No doubt it would be the same if there had been an actual accident at the troubled Sellafield Plant. It is therefore crucial that all households in the State be supplied with copies of the National Emergency Plan.

"Having visited the Sellafield complex on two occasions I would be anxious that the UK Government show the Irish people that adequate safeguards have been put in place to protect the Highly Active Storage Tanks from terrorist attack. I believe that the Irish Government needs to make Sellafield a higher priority in any discussions with the UK Government".