The British government has admitted dumping more radioactive material in the Irish Sea, according to the Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods. He said the British authorities provided information to the Government last month about the dumping of material in the Holyhead Deep in 1975.

"This involved a very small quantity of low-grade material," Dr Woods said in reply to written questions from Mr Alan Shatter (FG, Dublin South) and Ms Liz Manus (DL, Wicklow).

The Minister had first received reports in July from the British authorities about dumping they had done in the Irish Sea and he "updated" the Dail about these first disclosures in October.

He said he wanted to assure the House: "I am satisfied with the level of co-operation I have received from the UK authorities since these incidents were first reported in July."

Mr John Gormley (Green Party, Dublin South-East) expressed concern about waste dumped between 1951 and 1957 by two Irish ships. In a written question, Mr Gormley said the waste was dumped in 45-gallon concrete drums which were supposed to be dumped off Rockall but were dumped in the Irish Sea.

Mr Gormley said this was a "secret operation" and the ships were paid extra cash for this assignment, and he asked the Minister to establish the content of these drums.

Dr Woods said he had informed the UK authorities about the allegations and he would "carry out the fullest investigation of these allegations. . ."