Environment ministers from 15 European countries meet today to discuss marine pollution in the North Atlantic, the day after a UN court instructed Britain to consult Ireland before allowing any new nuclear reprocessing at Sellafield.
Last night, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration criticised Britain for insufficient co-operation with Ireland over concerns about Sellafield's radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea, and issued an interim order requiring a consultation mechanism be agreed by the two countries.
The Court also ordered an end to any new reprocessing at the THORP part of the Sellafield operation, which reprocesses spent nuclear material used in weapons manufacture.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, said the ruling was "a positive development" but insisted Ireland would continue to pursue the matter: "This is far from being the final part of the case. When we return to the full hearing of this matter in a few months' time, Ireland will continue to make the case that these operations at Sellafield constitute an unacceptable risk."
The UN tribunal in The Hague agreed with the Government's contention that the co-operation given by Britain - as required by the Court's ruling in 2001 - was not sufficiently "timely or effective".
Significantly, under the terms of the ruling the British must also now provide information about Sellafield, which Minister Cullen, has described as an important developemnt.
The tribunal also said the UK must abide by commitments given to Ireland on June 13th 2001 that no decision to authorise further reprocessing at the THORP facility be made without first consulting Ireland.
The Court adjourned the matter until September 12th when it wants to see a progress report on the measures put in place to enhance co-operation and on Britian's compliance with the June 2001 ruling.
Criticism of Sellafield's discharges is also coming form the Norwegians after the nuclear waste by-product, technetium-99 (T-99), was found in salmon from Scottish and Norwegian fisheries.
In a move described by environmental group, Greenpeace, as "cynical", Britian announced a nine-month moratorium on discharges of T-99 into the Irish Sea. "Technetium has a half-life of over 200,000 years. A nine-month moratorium is useless unless it leads to a permanent ban and an end to reprocessing and all nuclear discharges," Greenpeace's Mr John Bowler said.
The British will also be criticised by other members of OSPAR - the convention of North Atlantic countries, including Ireland - which addresses issues of marine pollution.
At the historic first meeting in Portugal five years ago, British deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott pledged that Britain would clean up its act over radioactive discharges. However, since then the emissions have increased.
The OSPAR meeting aims to adopt guidelines promoting offshore wind energy as well as impressing upon Britain - and France - the need to meet commitments on nuclear and other forms of pollution.
German Environment Minister Jurgen Trittin, a Green Party representive who is against nuclear power, will chair the meeting.
The OSPAR Convention deals with marine pollution, in the North East Atlantic and North Sea. Member states are: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the European Commission.
This year the meeting is being run jointly with that of the Helsinki Convention (HELCOM). HELCOM deals with marine pollution in the Baltic Sea. Member States are: Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Denmark.