4th July 2002

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Call on Irish Government to support campaign against transportation of deadly nuclear fuels

Sinn Fein TD for Louth and party Environment spokesperson, Arthur Morgan this afternoon called on the Irish government to support the campaign against the transportation, through the Irish sea, of deadly nuclear fuels, which are being returned from Japan to Sellafield nuclear plant. Deputy Morgan said:

''This afternoon a shipment of extremely radioactive material, with enough plutonium to create 50 nuclear bombs, is being returned from Japan to the Sellafield processing plant. The reason it is being returned is because British Nuclear Fuels Limited admitted falsifying the materials safety records, something which the Japanese government described as `deplorable'.

``The history of Britain's nuclear industry is a shameful one of accidents and incidents. It is only by chance that we have not suffered the consequences of a major accident at its plant on the Irish Sea.

``I am calling on the Irish Government to join with other countries, especially those along the 18,000 mile route this cargo is travelling, and demand an end to the trading and transportation of extremely volatile and hazardous radioactive material.

``I would commend all those ordinary people and groups who have spearheaded the campaigns for a nuclear free environment over the years and offer my wholehearted support and encouragement to those who are planning to launch a flotilla of small boats to protest as the ships carrying the radioactive cargo enter the Irish Sea later this summer.''

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