Sinn Féin’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Sean Crowe TD, has expressed his serious concern after the first annual report of the British Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), ordered the Sellafield nuclear plant to improve waste containment and fire safety after inspectors found breaches at the site.

Deputy Crowe said:

“The Sellafield plant continues to roll from one crisis to another and it is an unwelcome blot on the Irish horizon.

“The nuclear site is approximately 180km from Ireland’s coastline and since its construction it has been associated with numerous health risks to those living on Ireland’s east coast.

“This latest report, which ordered the plant to improve waste containment and fire safety after inspectors found breaches at the site, will do little to ease the genuine fears Irish people have.

“The report also states that some of the older facilities at Sellafield do not meet modern engineering standards and their safety cases therefore cannot demonstrate the high standards required for nuclear facilities.

“This report also comes on the back of a safety scare in January when workers at the site were asked not to report to work because of the detection of elevated radiation levels at the plant.

“This latest report shows again how dangerous Sellafield is and that it continues to be a threat.

“It needs to close and the Irish Government need to convey that message to the British Government on a regular and routing basis.”

ENDS