Government Publishes Updated National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Exposures

Ireland's fourth National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Exposures has been published, and the "Go In, Stay In, Tune In" message has been removed from it.

The updated plan was published by Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. It sets out the steps for a national response to an emergency exposure accident or incident from abroad, and the subsequent transition to a managed existing exposure situation.

The Department has said such plans, and the exercises that accompany them, are updated regularly and routinely to stress-test the systems and procedures in place, so that Government, State agencies and industry are prepared to effectively manage a range of potential, hypothetical scenarios.

The plan provides for the use of the established structures of the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group (NECG), as provided for under the Government's Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework. Those structures set out the appropriate steps, responsibilities and procedures for any such event.

The 2019 national plan was exercised in September 2022. The plan has since been reviewed and updated based on work undertaken to address recommendations from that exercise, on independently verified atmospheric dispersion modelling conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and in accordance with generic criteria for protective actions developed by international organisations.

The recommendation for sheltering in Ireland is therefore no longer considered applicable, and the "Go In, Stay In, Tune In" message has been removed from the updated plan.

The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the EPA have undertaken extensive engagement with supporting Departments and key Agencies that hold roles and responsibilities during a national emergency exposure accident from abroad. Both have also consulted with the Office of Emergency Planning and engaged with the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning.

The Department has described an event of this nature as highly improbable, while stating that the Government is aware of the impact it could have and is committed to ensuring that any such risks are minimised and that contingencies are addressed.

In its notes to editors, the Department points to changes in the nuclear landscape in the past number of years, with the shutting down of nuclear reactors in the UK and a change in operations at the Sellafield site. Those changes have resulted in a change in the potential implications any nuclear accident in the UK would have on Ireland.

The plan was prepared in line with the emergency preparedness and response provisions of the Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive, Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom. It has a statutory basis in Regulation 55 of the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2019, S.I. No. 30 of 2019. The EPA provides scientific and technical expertise on radiological protection matters and holds a legislative responsibility under S.I. No. 30 of 2019 to test the effectiveness of the protective measures set out in the plan.

The national plan will be kept under review, to take account of changes or lessons identified from exercises and events, and changes to the nuclear landscapes of Ireland's neighbouring countries. The National Plan for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Exposures, along with infographic and public information, is available on gov.ie.