FURTHER information is to be sought by the Minister of State for Energy, Mr Emmet Stagg, on safety aspects of the nuclear waste storage facility proposed for a site near Sellafield in England.
Mr Stagg was commenting on a leaked memo from a scientist working for NIREX, charged with assessing the safety of any such underground storage facility. The scientist suggested the company was "struggling to make a case for the site", despite £200 million being spent on the project so far.
The memo says scientists working on the project are concerned about the geological safety of the proposed plant. The company is seeking planning permission for an underground rock laboratory at Longlands Farm, Gosforth, in Cumbria, to continue its research into the site.
Mr Stagg said last night said he was very concerned. Such news only served to reinforce the negative perception of the British nuclear industry. Further information would be sought and he hoped the UK authorities, both political and scientific, would investigate further.
The Democratic Left TD Mr Eric Byrne has called on the Government to make representations to the UK authorities for planning permission to be refused for the underground storage project.
Cumbria County Council has called on the British Minister for Energy, Mr John Gummer, to reopen the public inquiry into the project.