Bairbre de Brún expresses dismay over stance on Sellafield

18 January, 2006

Bairbre de Brún expresses dismay over stance on Sellafield

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has expressed her dismay after an Advocate General at the European Court of Justice criticised the Irish Government for pursuing a case against Sellafied through the United Nations.

Speaking today Ms de Brún said:

“Sellafield has become a by-word for negligence and incompetence and has a poor track record in safety. It is a matter of some concern that the European Commission, having failed to take action itself over the clear
danger to health and environmental standards posed by the Sellafield plant, chose to take action against the Irish government when it sought to resolve the dispute over the plant through the United Nations.

“The UN Tribunal on the Law of the Sea had recommended some early measures that could be taken towards resolving the dispute between the Irish and British governments on this matter that Irish people have campaigned long and hard to see tackled.

“Sinn Féin is still clearly of the opinion that the Irish Government must relentlessly pursue the British Government and BNFL through diplomatic, environmental and political channels and work with others to build a mass movement for its immediate closure.” ENDS