The Western Health Board was prosecuted by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and fined for improper disposal of radioactive materials, according to the institute's 1996 annual report.
The report, published this morning, also highlights an action taken against an unnamed hospital for holding disused radioactive sources which were not licensed or included in any inventory of such materials.
The prosecution was dismissed on the grounds of lack of knowledge by hospital authorities of the existence of the unlicensed sources, the institute stated.
Rising levels of radiation in Irish Sea shellfish, surveys of radon in Irish homes and modifications to the national radiation emergency plan all feature in the report.
Increases in technetium-99 discharges from the Sellafield reprocessing plant had caused an elevation of levels of this radionuclide in fish samples, the institute noted. The board needs to "monitor this situation closely," says its chairman, Dr Mary Upton.
Levels remain very low, however, and consumers should have no concerns about eating fish or shellfish available on the Irish market, says the report.
Studies of the naturally occurring radioactive gas, radon, showed that workers in one of Ireland's show caves experienced exposures similar to those applicable to radiation workers.
While this posed no threat to visitors to show caves, the institute urged owners of these attractions to try to reduce exposure for their tour guides.
Exposures in one cave ranged from 4,000 to 18,000 microsieverts. There are no regulations controlling radon exposures but, the institute points out, exposure limits for man-made radiation sources stood at 1,000 microsieverts for the general public and 20,000 microsieverts for radiation workers.
An exercise testing the national emergency plan for nuclear accidents took place in November 1996. The exercise "brought to light significant shortcomings" in communications systems and a review of the plan was initiated.
The Western Health Board was fined £500 following the second of two incidents in which medical radioactive waste was inadvertently included in consignments of clinical waste exported to the UK for disposal. The board pleaded guilty to the unlicensed exportation, according to the report.
The institute's income in 1996 was £1,928,000, made up of grant in aid of £1.3 million and £628,0900 in earnings from dosimetry, product certification and other services.