asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the precise locations at which radioactive wastes are discharged by the UK authorities into the Irish Sea; if these wastes are self-destructing; the length of time they are likely to remain in the sea in a radio-active form; and if Irish authorities are informed in advance or subsequently of each discharge.

The Nuclear Energy Board have advised me that the main source of radioactive liquid waste discharged into the Irish Sea is the fuel reprocessing plant at Windscale in Cumbria. Other minor sources are the nuclear power stations on or near the UK's West coast—Wylfa (Anglesea), Hunterston (Ayrshire), Calder Hall (Windscale), Hinkley Point (Somerset), Oldbury (Somerset) and Berkeley (Gloucestershire),

The different radioisotopes discharged decay at rates which vary from a few minutes to long periods of years. To that extent the wastes are self-destructing.

The Irish authorities are not informed in advance of or subsequent to the discharge of radioactive waste, nor are the British authorities. This is because the discharge is normally continuous and under the UK licensing system the amount which may be discharged by each plant in a specified period of time is regulated.

Radioactivity in the Irish Sea is closely monitored by the UK authorities and the Nuclear Energy Board. The board have estimated that it is unlikely that anyone in Ireland could receive from that source a radiation exposure in excess of 1 per cent of the internationally recommended dose limits.

Approximately what proportion of the waste is in the category that does not self-destruct for a long period of years?

I do not know.

Could the Minister trouble himself to find out?

I will inquire from the Nuclear Energy Board.

Is the Minister aware of evidence given to the Windscale Inquiry indicating that radioactive readings in the sea around Windscale were as much as 16 to 24 times higher than they would be in normal sea water and is that a matter of some concern to him?

Inevitably, they must be higher because the radioactive readings in normal sea water would be very low. I do not know whether they were or were not 16 to 24 times higher, but even if they were the base point is virtually nil so it could be meaningless.

Would the Minister agree that due to the unusual saucer shape of the Irish Sea, it does not tend to be swept out regularly and that inevitably there will be a build-up of materials and that that is a matter of some concern?

We had this argument several times.

Can I ask the Minister——

The Minister's mind is made up about it.

Can I ask the Minister a further supplementary on Question No. 11?

If the Deputy is quick and asks it without a lot of preamble.

Would the Minister investigate the possibility that radioactivity may become concentrated in fish caught in the sea in which radioactive materials have been discharged?

The Nuclear Energy Board have been monitoring that and there is no evidence of it.

12.