15th January 2002

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Sinn Fein TD to visit Sellafield

BNFL slammed for ``record of lies and deceit''

Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said that he will be visiting the Sellafield nuclear plant at the end of the month and demanding its closure by British Nuclear Fuels and the British government. The Cavan/Monaghan TD who is tonight (Tuesday) speaking at a debate on Sellafield in UCD, slammed BNFL on the latest revelations about safety in the Sellafield complex. He said:

``Just today we learn that the Atomic Energy Commission in Britain has confirmed that the decommissioning programme on the original Windscale plant, which preceded the present Sellafield plant, has been stopped due to concern over the risk of fuel spontaneously catching fire.

``The British Atomic Energy Commission now says that the Windscale decommissioning project which is being carried out by British Nuclear Fuels and Rolls Royce may have to be stopped altogether as the procedures may not be safe and could be potentially disastrous.

``The record of British Nuclear Fuels has been decades of lies and deceit. The latest revelation begs the question - what else is being hidden from the Irish and British public by BNFL and the British government?

``I will be reiterating these points when I visit Sellafield itself on 28 January as part of a delegation from the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body. I will be making it clear to BNFL and the British government that this plant must be closed and that the Irish people will accept nothing less.''ENDS

The Sellafield debate is at 8pm, Tuesday 15 January in Theatre R, UCD Arts Block

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