UK-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters

This Group provides a forum for open dialogue between the British and Irish governments on civil nuclear policies and environmental protection.

Purpose  

The UK-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters provides a forum for open dialogue between the British and Irish governments on civil nuclear policies and environmental protection, recognising their geographic links and acknowledging their differing stances.

The group is also:

  • an opportunity for the UK government and regulators to provide updates on the UK nuclear sector to their Irish counterparts
  • a platform for broader knowledge sharing between the two governments on radiological matters

Group Chairs

The meetings are chaired by Ireland’s Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Current chairs:

  • Imogen Maclaren, Head of International Civil Nuclear, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero – Head of UK Delegation
  • Eóin Deegan, Principal Officer, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications – Head of Republic of Ireland Delegation

Summary of meetings

The Group meets twice a year to exchange updates and facilitate cooperation. In addition there is ad hoc contact between members of the group, including nuclear site visits.

Winter Meeting, 29 November 2024

The Irish Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) hosted the winter Contact Group meeting in Ireland. The UK provided high-level updates on:

  • UK nuclear new build projects
  • Great British Nuclear and its Technology Selection Process
  • the UK Nuclear fuels programme
  • activities by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) including developments at Sellafield
  • regulatory activities by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Environment Agency (EA)
  • UK emergency preparedness and response planning
  • confirmation of successful collaboration on radiological waste between the UK and Ireland

At the request of the group, Nuclear Transport Services (NTS) delivered an in-depth presentation on nuclear transport.

Closing remarks

After the meeting, the Chair thanked all attendees for attending and reiterated the importance of the Contact Group. Both delegations agreed that the next UK-Ireland Contact Group meeting would take place in London in June 2025.

Spring Meeting, 17 June 2024

The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero hosted the spring Contact Group meeting. In the spring meeting, the UK provided high-level updates on:

  • UK fuels policy (HALEU)
  • Alternative Routes to Market (ARM) consultation, the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund (FNEF) and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) regulation
  • UK new build and current nuclear facilities
  • current generating fleet
  • UK approach to managing radioactive substances and nuclear decommissioning
  • emergency preparedness and response
  • recent UK activity in preparation for nuclear safety conventions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
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