Trimble backs Ahern in concerns over Sellafield plant

The Northern Ireland First Minister Mr David Trimble has come out in support of the Irish Government in its concerns over the proposed MOX plant at Sellafield.

He said this evening the issue of the controversial nuclear reprocessing unit was of equal concern to the people of Northern Ireland as those in the Republic. It had been debated in the Assembly, where it caused "a degree of concern".

The issue wsa "highly emotional " because radiation can affect people without them knowing about it, he said. Mr Trimble warned that in the wake of September 11th, the greatest threat to the safety of the people of Ireland would be a terrorist attack on the Cumbria plant.

The Taoiseach said earlier today that he had raised the Government's objection to the proposed plant with Mr Tony Blair at their meeting in Dublin Castle.

Although he described the meeting of the British-Irish Council in Dublin Castle as "very successful", Mr Ahern said he had received no assurance from the British prime minister the building of the controversial plant would be stopped.

"I entirely understand the concerns of people here in Ireland about Sellafield," Mr Blair told a press conference after the meeting. "If there is a risk it affects people in my country as much as yours".

Mr Blair said there were rigorous international standards on such plants and they would be followed to the letter. He said there would continue to be dialogue on the issue but would not be drawn on whether or not the plan would be scrapped.

The Government has been outraged by plans for the mixed oxide plant at Sellafield and has signalled its intention to take legal action over the plant. Last week Fianna Fáil placed a full-page advertisement in London's Timesnewspaper voicing its opposition to the project.

The UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea announced last night it will rule on December 3rd on whether Ireland should be granted an injunction to prevent the opening of the unit.

Mr Ahern said he also discussed the Dublin/Monaghan bombings with Mr Blair during bilateral talks that followed the broader council meeting.

"I totally understand the concerns of the relatives of the victims," Mr Blair said. He confirmed the Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid would be meeting Mr Justice Barron, who is heading the inquiry into the 1974 atrocity, in the near future. "The sooner the better," he said.

Dozens of protesting members of the Justice for the Forgotten group - which represents the victims of the 33 people who died in the bombings - greeted Mr Blair's official car as it swept into Dublin Castle this morning.

The holding of the British-Irish Council meeting - only the second meeting of its kind since the signing of the Belfast Agreement - was welcomed by both leaders.

Mr Ahern said it showed the institutions set up under the agreement were "up and running again", and it was time to deal with issues that affected the "everyday lives of the Irish population, both North and South."