Irish Times Reports

Meanwhile, the emergency committee that meets in the event of nuclear radiation threats to Ireland has had two informal meetings over the past few days. The full national emergency planning body has not met, however, in response to the ongoing nuclear risk in Japan.

The committee, comprising representatives from Government departments and State agencies, convenes at times of nuclear threat. This is when the National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents takes effect.

The unfolding Japanese nuclear crisis did not represent a significant threat to citizens here however, according to a spokesman from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.

“It hasn’t been invoked because there is no risk to Ireland,� he said yesterday.

“There was a mini-meeting on Saturday of a few of the agencies but the full National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents hasn’t been invoked,� the institute spokesman added.

A second informal meeting was held on Monday, he said. This included members of the emergency Response Co-ordinating Committee including representatives from the institute, Met Éireann, the Garda and at least two departments, Environment and Foreign Affairs, he said.

The idea was to keep the channels open and to exchange information on the unfolding events taking place in Japan.

The institute has already issued two statements indicating that the limited radiation releases from Japan were too far away to pose any health risk here.