BNFL official says Sellafield poses no risk to Ireland

An official from British Nuclear Fuels has insisted that the controversial Sellafield nuclear plant poses no risk to Ireland.

John Clarke, BNFL’s head of safety and quality, also rejected accusations that Sellafield was operated under a veil of secrecy and that adequate independent inspections were not carried out.

"Euratom inspectors have full access to the site, they come frequently, they have offices on the site, they attend at whatever time they wish to attend, they have cameras that carry out surveillance activities on the site, they have instruments that measure things on the site 24 hours-a-day," he said.

Mr Clarke was speaking ahead of a meeting today between local representatives from the north-east of Ireland and senior BNFL officials to discuss the alleged dangers posed by Sellafield.