Former Donegal Fianna Fáil TD, Niall Blaney, has written to the Taoiseach to express his concerns about a preliminary report by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM), a UK state-owned company.
The recently published report has identified an area of granite bedrock near Newry in Co Down as being suitable for the underground disposal of the United Kingdom’s nuclear waste.
In his letter to Leo Varadkar, Mr Blaney, who is seeking the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the Midlands North West Constituency in this year’s European elections, said the RWM report indicates that there are an additional four sites in Northern Ireland being explored.
“This consideration of the island of Ireland as a disposal site for the UK’s Nuclear Waste must be halted immediately,” Mr Blaney said.
“I am writing to you to request that you raise this issue as a matter of urgency with the British Irish Council. As a former Parliamentarian and Co-Chair of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, I am aware of the influence elected representatives and Government Members from the island of Ireland may wield in the consideration of this critical issue,” he added.
“It is imperative that consideration of the island of Ireland for such waste disposal does not proceed any further. We must ensure that every step possible is taken to protect our island and our citizens, North and South.”
Newry is one of five Northern Ireland sites being considered as possible stores for nuclear waste disposal and is among 45 locations identified across the UK.
Tags: