asked the Minister for Energy the reason for the delay in carrying out a pilot exercise on the Emergency Plan for Radiological Protection and in providing Ireland with an early warning system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Early Warning System. Radiological Protection Plan.
49.
The limited test, to which I referred in the House on 1 June last, was carried out on 10 October. The test involved communication between the Meteorlogical Service, the Garda and the NEB, the convening of the nuclear accident committee at the emergency control centre, analysis of the effects of a hypothetical accident and the taking of necessary decisions. The results of the test are being evaluated with a view to making improvements identified during the test in the emergency plan. To ensure that the plan operates smoothly, further tests will be carried out in the future.
It was envisaged that the limited test would be carried out earlier, but it was considered necessary to give all the Departments and organisations affected by an emergency sufficient time to familiarise themselves with their role and responsibilities and to identify key individuals who would form the nuclear accident committee, while at the same time ensuring that the test would be carried out in realistic conditions.
The early warning system which forms an integral part of the plan is being put in place. Bilateral and international arrangements for notification of accidents are already agreed and in place. The monitoring equipment which will allow continuous monitoring of radioactivity and identify the arrival and dispersion pattern of abnormal radioactivity will be installed over the next two months and should be operational by the end of the year.
I commend the Minister on at last getting some progress made on this issue. Will he make available to the House the precise details of the emergency plan? He will recall that when we discussed this matter last he suggested that the question be delayed until after this pilot exercise had been carried out. Further in relation to the early warning system, is it not the case that the equipment is available in the country and that continuous monitoring could be put in place? Would he agree that there is no need for a further delay of two months as he has suggested?
May I intervene here before the Minister speaks? If I am to dispose of the five priority questions which are before me within the prescribed time supplementaries will, of necessity, have to be brief and relevant, otherwise I shall not be able to dispose of the questions.
I shall be as brief as possible. I wish it were as simple as the Deputy mentions in relation to the continuous dose rate monitoring system. However, because of the complex nature of the monitoring system, the equipment cannot be bought off the shelves. The Nuclear Energy Board ordered the systems and delivery is to take place in the month of October. Work on the sites around the country is underway and it is expected that the monitoring system will be installed in November and that the system will be operational in December.
As far as publication of the plan is concerned, that is a matter on which I must wait for full details of the test that has been carried out, the full report. Whatever recommendations come out of that will be taken into account. The proposed plant will be ordered, the matter will come back to Government and then the question of publication will be taken into account.