The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, is expected to raise the Sellafield issue with the EU Environment Commissioner, Ms Margot Wallstr÷m, when he meets her in Dublin tomorrow.
Ms Wallstr÷m, whose brief includes nuclear safety, has already made it clear that Ireland should seek redress within the EU legal framework rather than pursuing the matter through the international courts.
It is anticipated that Mr Dempsey will seek to explore what avenues are open to Ireland under EU legislation on nuclear safety to seek to have the British Nuclear Fuels plant in Cumbria closed down.
In an unprecedented move, the Government has already commenced a legal action before the 21-member judicial tribunal in Hamburg that deals with disputes under the 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention.
Ireland is seeking an injunction to prevent British Nuclear Fuels from starting production at its £475 million sterling MOX (mixed oxide) plant at Sellafield on December 20th, as authorised by the British Environment Secretary, Ms Margaret Beckett.
Mr Joe Jacob, Minister of State for Energy, said the proceedings in Hamburg were being taken because Britain had "violated numerous provisions" of the 1982 convention, which was intended to protect the marine environment.
Though the Government believes its best chance of halting the controversial MOX plant lies with this tribunal, which is due to receive an arbitrator's report on the case on December 8th, other options are being examined.
At the ╙gra Fianna Fβil conference in Cork last weekend, the Taoiseach said Ireland would use every avenue available to have Sellafield shut down.
Mr Ahern said he had spoken to the prime minister of Norway, where there has been growing criticism of the British government's decision to allow the MOX plant to go into production from December 20th, and also to politicians in Iceland.
"There is genuine concern about this development at Sellafield not only in Ireland but throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. We will be working to harness that support," he said.
Mr Ahern denied that Fianna Fβil's full-page advertisement in the London Times last week, calling for the closure of Sellafield, was a political stunt, and said he did not expect Ireland's stance to damage his relationship with Mr Tony Blair.
Referring to the British Department of Trade and Industry criticism of a reference in the advertisement to security, the Taoiseach noted that British MPs were bringing forward legislation to strengthen Sellafield against terrorist attack.
