Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Nuclear Plants.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

214 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Defence if he has initiated contacts with his British counterpart on possible air, sea and ground defence measures to counteract a potential terrorist attack on the Sellafield nuclear facility in Cumbria; if there are specific measures (details supplied) which the Irish Defence Forces could undertake, either unilaterally or by agreement with the British authorities, to help defend Sellafield; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23634/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The concerns of the Government in relation to Sellafield are well known to the House. A dominant theme of the Government's campaign against Sellafield has been the genuine fear of an accident at the site. The risk of a serious incident has now become more acute in the light of the horrific events of 11 September. These terrible events have highlighted new security risks and underline the responsibility of those countries with nuclear installations to protect such installations from attack. Those countries have an absolute duty to do everything possible to protect these installations from attack, and the protection of Sellafield is, of course, a matter for the British authorities. The Defence Forces will, as a matter of course, assist the Garda Síochána in preventing any potential threat to the Sellafield facility from this State or from Irish territorial waters.