Implementation of the OSPAR strategy with regard to radioactive substances - an Irish perspective

In July 1998 at Sintra, Portugal, the Contracting Parties to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic adopted a strategy for the purposes of directing the future work of the OSPAR Commission with regard to radioactive substances. The objective of the strategy is to prevent pollution of the maritime area from ionising radiation through progressive and substantial reductions of discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances, with the ultimate aim of attaining concentrations in the environment near background values for naturally occurring radioactive substances and close to zero for artificial radioactive substances. Ireland is currently in the process of finalising its national plan for the implementation of the Strategy which is due for submission to the OSPAR Commission by 1st July 2002. This paper sets out the regulatory framework and environmental monitoring arrangements with which Ireland will implement the strategy together with the concerns Ireland has with respect to monitoring the collective implementation of the strategy, transboundary issues and adherence to the precautionary principle. (author)