THE Government is seeking an urgent meeting with the British ambassador, Mrs Veronica Sutherland, to express "outrage" at the "incompetent" safety levels at the Sellafield nuclear power plant after British Nuclear Fuels yesterday confirmed a second radioactive leak in 24 hours.
The Minister of State for Energy, Mr Emmet Stagg, described BNFL's explanation that the leak was spread by heavy rainfall as "extraordinary" and said it demonstrated a "worrying level of in competence".
Mr Stagg said he had requested the meeting with the ambassador to ensure that the British government understood the "genuine fears" of the Irish people about Britain's nuclear industry.
"I find it quite incredible and indeed outrageous that within the space of 24 hours there have been two further incidents at this nuclear monstrosity. BNFL has called this an unfortunate coincidence. I call it a disgrace. The frequency of this litany of leaks, mishaps and incidents surrounding the Sellafield complex has totally shattered public confidence in it", he said.
A BNFL spokeswoman said the latest leak was not officially regarded as "serious". It had been discovered early on Tuesday after heavy overnight rain had washed radioactive liquid into the plant's drainage systems.
The liquid had leaked from a faulty valve and, due to a "minor blockage" in the drains, the contamination had flowed on to the ground. The area had been cordoned off and no member of the workforce had been affected. The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) had begun an inquiry.
There are no implications for the environment. It was totally an on site incident", she explained.
The NII is already investigating an earlier incident in which six workers were "slightly contaminated" on Sunday night when a leak was detected at the Magnox plant. The employees were immediately decontaminated and their health is currently being monitored.
The Green Party TD, Mr Trevor Sargent, said last night that the Government needed to inject "urgency and purpose" into its anti Sellafield position.