My Department is in regular contact with the British Embassy in Dublin on matters relating to Sellafield. The embassy provided advance notification of this industrial dispute and has kept my Department up to date on developments. My prime concern is that the industrial dispute does not compromise safety at the plant. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has also been maintaining contact with the UK's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, NII, in regard to the dispute.
I understand that shift workers at Sellafield took strike action on the afternoon of Friday, 14 November and Friday, 21 November 2003 and that similar action is planned for the next three Fridays. The British Embassy has informed my Department that the British Government remains satisfied that safety at Sellafield will not be compromised as a result of the industrial action. According to the embassy, the UK's NII is satisfied that BNFL's contingency arrangements are adequate to ensure the safety of the site during industrial action. I am informed that regular meetings are being held between the NII, the unions and Sellafield management to discuss safety-related issues and that emergency response teams are not affected by the industrial action.
The British Government is well aware of the concerns of the Government and the Irish public about Sellafield. The Government remains fully committed to bringing about the safe closure of the Sellafield plant.