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From:Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Updating of plans, and associated exercises, part of ongoing and prudent contingency planning

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien has published the updatedNational Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Exposures. This is Ireland’s fourth such national plan.

Such plans, and associated exercises, are updated regularly and routinely – to stress-test the systems and procedures that are in place to ensure that the Government, State agencies and industry are prepared to effectively manage a range of potential, hypothetical scenarios. Such plans play a key role in ensuring a coordinated response to significant incidents in the unlikely or rare event that they occur, and are in line with international best practice.

The plan sets out the steps for a national response to such an emergency exposure accident or incident from abroad, and the subsequent transition to a managed existing exposure situation. The plan provides for the use of the established structures of the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group (NECG), as provided for under Government’s Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework. These structures set out the appropriate steps, responsibilities and procedures to any such event.

Following the exercising of the 2019 national plan in September 2022, the plan has been reviewed and updated – based on work undertaken to address recommendations from the exercise; on independently verified atmospheric dispersion modelling conducted by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency); and in accordance with generic criteria for protective actions developed by international organisations. The recommendation for sheltering in Ireland is, therefore, no longer considered applicable and the ‘Go In, Stay In, Tune In’ message has been removed from the updated plan.

Extensive engagement with supporting Departments and key Agencies

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, along with the EPA, have undertaken extensive engagement with supporting Departments and key Agencies with roles and responsibilities during a national emergency exposure accident from abroad. The Department and the EPA have also consulted with the Office of Emergency Planning in the updating of the updated National Plan and engaged with the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. The role played by these bodies ensures a coordinated response to major incidents, should they take place.

While an event of this nature is highly improbable, the Government is aware of the impact it could have and is committed to ensuring that any such risks are minimised and that contingencies are addressed. The updated national plan, along with infographic and public information, is available at:National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Exposures.

The national plan will be kept under review, to take account of changes or lessons identified from exercises and events, and changes to the nuclear landscapes of Ireland’s neighbouring countries.

Following the exercising of the 2019 National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Exposures in September 2022, the national plan has been reviewed and updated, including feedback and recommendations arising from the exercise, independently verified modelling undertaken by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and best international practice in relation to protective actions.

In addition, there have been changes to the nuclear landscape in the past number of years with the shutting down of nuclear reactors in the UK and a change in operations at the Sellafield site. These changes have resulted in a change in the potential implications any nuclear accident in the UK would have on Ireland.

The National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Exposures was prepared in line with the emergency preparedness and response provisions of the Euratom Basic Safety Standards (BSS) Directive – Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom and builds on the previous plans, experience in this area and international best practice. This plan has a statutory basis in the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2019 – S.I. No. 30 of 2019 – Regulation 55. The EPA provides scientific and technical expertise on radiological protection matters and has a legislative responsibility under S.I. No. 30 of 2019 to test the effectiveness of the protective measures set out in the National Plan.