Taoiseach expresses Sellafield concerns to Blair

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has informed the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, about Ireland’s opposition to any expansion of the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria.

In a telephone conversation yesterday, Mr Ahern told Mr Blair that the Irish Government is very disappointed with his decision to allow a new MOX reprocessing facility to operate in Sellafield.

It emerged yesterday that no effective security review was carried before the British Government gave the project the green light.

Ireland has already announced its intention to challenge this decision in the European Court of Justice.