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Dublin 23rd July 1998... The Irish environmental organisation VOICE today welcomed the new OSPAR Convention on prevention of pollution of the North-East Atlantic, saying it was an historic agreement. The contracting parties to the agreement including Ireland have agreed to reduce the level of artificial radioactive substances in the marine environment to close to zero by the year 2020 with substantial reductions by the year 2000, thus heralding the beginning of the end of nuclear reprocessing. "The new OSPAR agreement is good news for Ireland thanks to the uncompromising position of the Scandinavian countries on agreeing an end to radioactive discharges", said Iva Pocock, VOICE spokesperson. "It is disconcerting to learn that the Irish delegation were not fully supportive of these radical targets, despite claims by Minister Joe Jacobs". VOICE said that it was now imperative that Ireland play a lead role in ensuring that the UK and France implement a plan of action to ensure that they can achieve the targets set for the reduction of radioactive substances. VOICE also welcomed the agreement to phase out the release of hazardous substances into the marine environment by the year 2020. This agreement in particular poses a serious challenge to Irish Industry and future industrial policy, which will no longer be able to embrace dirty industry. Given that Ireland still has no comprehensive chemical phase out action plan in line with previous commitments under OSPAR, it is imperative that the Minister for the Environment Noel Dempsey gives the necessary funding to the EPA to ensure that this is now a priority. For further information please contact: Iva Pocock 01-6618123 or 088-2735082 |