It has been announced that the Irish and Manx governments will present a joint paper on continuing concerns over Sellafield at the next British Irish Council Environment Ministers' Meeting. The news was released following the most recent meeting of the body in Bangor, Co. Antrim on the Ist February 2008.
The Irish and Manx governments have been voicing similar concerns about the British Nuclear facility for several years however their opposition has been somewhat muted of late and certainly has failed to reflect the level of public unease that exists in both countries over the accident prone Sellafield complex.
The news that a joint initiative is to be launched is obviously welcome but it is significant that no detail of what both governments intend to present has been revealed.
It is also significant that there is no involvement or role for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in framing concerns about the plant.
Paradoxically, the British government through the various bodies which regulate the nuclear industry invites greater participation from NGOs in the Celtic countries than their own governments!
A press release on the Irish/Manx initiative can be found on the Manx government website at:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
09/02/08
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