Sir, - Ms Nuala Ahern MEP(May 23rd and June 19th) attempts to build an edifice of generalised criticism of the RPII on the frail foundation of a quarrel she has with our choice of keynote speaker at the recent conference we organised to mark the tenth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident.
The speaker in question was Dr Peter Waight, an independent medical specialist who worked in the World Health Organisation's programme of assessment of the health effects of the Chernobyl accident. The RPII is satisfied that he was eminently qualified to give an informed and unbiased assessment of the effects of the accident, and that he did so.
But whatever room there, may be for differences of opinion among scientists about the precise effects of the Chernobyl catastrophe, Ms Ahern is surely making a very strained political point when she suggests that the choice of Dr Waight as a speaker could in some way render less valid the RPII's own scientific findings regarding the effects on the Irish people of emissions from Sellafield. The Institute refutes categorically that it is in any way influenced in its judgments by proponents of nuclear power, and it is confident that this is recognised by the great majority of the Irish public. - Yours, etc.,
Chief Executive, Radiological Protection
Institute of Ireland, Clonskeagh Square, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14.