Labour attacks Sellafield access deal

THE Labour Party accused the Government yesterday of doing a deal with Britain that would give our officials access to the Sellafield nuclear plant in return for our purchase of electricity from the nuclear power station.

The Department of the Environment would not comment on the claim yesterday and said it would respond in detail tomorrow when terms of the deal between the British and Irish Governments are revealed.

The landmark deal that will be signed between Environment Minister Dick Roche and British Ambassador Stuart Eldon will give Irish radiological experts access to the plant and its security arrangements for the first time.

The deal will include an early warning notification system if there is an attack at the plant, the department spokesman confirmed.

However, Labour said the Government had only secured access to Sellafield in return for agreeing to set up an East-West inter-connector that would allow us to buy nuclear-powered electricity from the plant.

Ireland signed a deal with the Sellafield nuclear power station two weeks ago that allows it to supply us with electricity - against Government policy that we will be a nuclear-free country, said Labour’s Nuclear Safety spokesman Emmet Stagg. “I want to know is there a ‘quid pro quo’ whereby the British have agreed to allow us access to Sellafield as long as we agree to buy electricity from them,” said Mr Stagg. However, a department spokesman insisted yesterday it would not comment on any of these claims until tomorrow.

Communications Minister Noel Dempsey confirmed to the Dáil on November 30 that the Irish Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) had been asked to produce proposals for the development of two 500MW electricity inter-connectors between Ireland and Britain.

Mr Roche said the deal put “good neighbourliness” on a formal footing. He insisted the total closure of Sellafield remains the objective of the Government.