54 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the contacts made with the British Government on its decision to sanction the commissioning of the MOX plant at Sellafield; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29805/01]

84 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the progress of the Government's opposition to Sellafield; the nature of the legal action which has been taken against the United Kingdom under European Union law regarding the MOX plant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29471/01]

121 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the recent discussions she has had with the British Government concerning the new MOX plant at Sellafield, which is due to begin operation in late November 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26248/01]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 54, 84 and 121 together.

Since taking office in 1997, I have vigorously pursued the Government's campaign against Sellafield. I have had numerous meetings with UK Ministers and been in regular correspondence with them to convey, in the strongest possible terms, the Government's total opposition to the Sellafield operations, including the MOX plant. I have raised the profile of the Government's anti-nuclear policy at every available opportunity on the international front such as at the EU, at the International Energy Agency, at the OSPAR Commission and at the United Nations in New York. I have also developed links with like-minded countries, in particular with a number of the nordic countries who have similar concerns about radioactive discharges from the Sellafield reprocessing plant.