Tribunal rejects Ireland's Sellafield claims

The United Nations Court of Arbitration in the Hague has dismissed Ireland's efforts to gain access to confidential information about the operation of the Sellafield nuclear plant in Britain.

The court rejected the Irish case by a 2-1 majority last night.

Ireland had claimed the right to access information about safety at the MOX (mixed oxide) fuel reprocessing facility at Sellafield under the Ospar Convention.

Despite rejecting Ireland's case, the UN court also dismissed British government assertions that Ireland had no right to sue in an international tribunal, that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction in the case and that the Irish claim was inadmissible.

Environment Minister, Martin Cullen, insists that the result is progress in the ongoing campaign against Sellafield.

The court also ordered both sides to pay their own costs, which are expected to run into millions.

Mr Cullen said: "Ireland has established by precedent that the UK is now accountable to international tribunals."