FF forced to pre-empt Meltdown drill

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday March 08, 2002 20:14 by urban cowboy

Plans being sent out today - Helpline Monday - A Coincidence?

It appears that our government yesterday got their shit together in an attempt to avoid further discussion of their inadequate response to the threat posed to the health and wellbeing of Irish Citizens by releasing to the media an update on their 'emergency plan'. What a spoiler - 'the helpline will be up and running Monday'. They appear to suggest that even in the event of an accident that there would be no evacuation of people involved. Dundalk would be evacuated - that's for sure - whether or not the government were involved. I see arrests at central bank in the near future. Below is the RTE version of the FF Press Release

An information leaflet is being sent to all homes setting out how people should respond to a major nuclear accident or terrorist attack abroad leading to radioactive contamination reaching Ireland. The leaflet, produced by the Department of Public Enterprise, advises people to remain indoors to minimise exposure to high radiation levels outside.
The leaflet is entitled ‘National Planning for a Nuclear Emergency’ and the Department of Public Enterprise has said that everyone should receive a copy within a matter of weeks.
In the event of a nuclear accident or terrorist attack on a nuclear facility close-by, the main advice to the public is to take shelter indoors.
Iodine tablets will be made available as these will reduce the uptake by the thyroid glad of radioactivity. These have yet to arrive but are now expected by the end of the month.
Nuclear disasters, such as that at Chernobyl, have the capacity to lead to widespread contamination, however the Irish leaflet states that it is not envisaged that such an accident would give rise to the need for evacuation of people in Ireland.
A more detailed document is going to be available on the websites of the Department of Public Enterprise and the Radiological Protection Institute.

Copies will also be provided in public libraries. A help-line is due to come on stream by Monday.