Sellafield nuclear power plant in England is a potential hazard for Ireland and will need to be monitored.
Following a visit to Sellafield, watchdog the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has warned that the nuclear plant will need to be monitored for the next 150 years and remains a significant risk for three to four decades.
Dr Tony Colgan of the Radiological Protection Institute warned that an accident at Sellafield could present a significant problem for the food chain in Ireland.
A serious accident, although deemed a small risk, would affect our food chain.
The Radiological Protection Institute also warned that if there was a terrorist attack on Sellafield, the impact on Ireland was unquantifiable because British authorities were not prepared to share security risk information.
Dr Ann McGarry of the Radiological Protection Institute says anything that might compromise safety at Sellafield is not in Ireland's interest. Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is determined to continue to press British authorities for more information about the operations at the plant.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 April 2005. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
