Perhaps we will have an opportunity to consider that whole question further at another time. In discussing Sellafield with the British Prime Minister, did the Taoiseach press for any specific action and did he indicate to the Prime Minister that the only thing that would really satisfy public opinion here is the closure of this serious menace? If the Taoiseach did not ask for the closure of Sellafield, what did he press the Prime Minister to do in regard to Sellafield?

I endeavoured to answer that question in the Dáil in reply to a Private Notice Question raised by Deputy Allen. I have already given an answer in the Dáil on that. I explained to the Prime Minister that the nature or our concern and the grounds for it which I set out in this House in reply to a question. Those grounds include the frequency with which in the recent past incidents have occurred, a much greater frequency than over the previous 30 years, and also the revelation that information in relation to the event that occurred 30 years ago proved incorrect by a factor of 40. These are matters which I mentioned in this House as our concerns and I conveyed these concerns to the Prime Minister, indicating that we would wish to see a monitoring process carried out under international auspices so that we can be assured as to whether the Sellafield plant can continue in operation.

Expressing concern is of some value but what I am trying to ascertain is if in the course of discussions the Taoiseach pressed for some specific action, something that would reassure public opinion here and in Britain. Am I correct in assuming from the Taoiseach's reply that he did not propose to the Prime Minister that this operation be closed down? In his representations did the Taoiseach make any differentiation as to the two separate aspects of the Sellafield operation, the fact that one portion of this plant is concerned with military nuclear matters and another with civilian nuclear power? Did the Taoiseach advert to the nuclear military side of this operation in these discussions?

My concern is with the possible dangers to this country arising from this station, its siting and its operation. These are the matters I raised. Before I met her the Prime Minister had announced an inquiry into recent events there. I indicated that we were concerned that the whole matter should be reviewed at international level. Our own monitoring of air and sea has indicated that the plant, even allowing for the recent incidents which have taken place, has not up to this point caused any worrying pollution problems of either air or sea in terms of radioactivity. But the point I was making in the Dáil, and which I sought to convey to the Prime Minister, is that while that is the case, and there is no concern that need arise from what has happened, the frequency of the incidents and the revelation that previous information was incorrect raised doubts with regard to the furture of that plant and that with a view to establishing whether those doubts were justified and whether we can justify what action has been taken, we felt the matter should be reviewed internationally.

Just one more question.

Then I will call Deputy Mac Giolla.

Then I would like to come in again on the Anglo Irish Agreement. The Taoiseach is not according this matter the urgency public opinion here would wish him to give it. Did the Taoiseach, in talking to the British Prime Minister, advert to two aspects of the matter, one the constant leakages and emissions which are a cause of danger and concern and which are, more seriously, an indication of the faulty nature of this plant; and, secondly, the fact that these frequent occurrences there are a cause for worry as to whether or not there might not some day be a major explosion or failure at this plant? Is the Taoiseach not aware of the widespread anxiety here, among experts as well as among ordinary members of the public, about the very existence of this plant apart from reassurances about its operation?

It is precisely those concerns that I have referred to in my reply to this House to a question on the Adjournment. Even though what has happened so far has not had any adverse effect here, the frequency of these incidents raised doubts about the operation of that plant.

As a whole?

The number and variety of incidents that have occurred raise doubts as to its operation, and it is our concern for the future arising from that that I expressed in this House and conveyed to the Prime Minister.