The nuclear disaster scenario as depicted in RTÉ's new docu-drama is not realistic and exaggerates the amount of radioactivity that could reach Ireland, according to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).
Following the first part of the docu-drama Fallout on RTÉ last night, Dr Ann McGarry, chief executive of RPII, said the Sellafield accident scenario as portrayed by the drama series could not realistically occur.
Having viewed an advance screening of the two-part programme last week and since analysed the scenario, Dr McGarry said the RPII was confident it is not possible for such an accident to occur.
"The institute has long been concerned at the possibility of an accident at Sellafield involving the highly active storage tanks and has conducted extensive studies to predict how such an accident could affect Ireland," said Dr McGarry.
She added the RPII is particularly concerned the programme appears to suggest that evacuation would be the appropriate response to an accident at Sellafield, when international best practice indicates evacuation is only ever recommended to prevent people suffering immediate health effects.
"In Ireland, due to our distance from any nuclear facilities and the type of accident that could possibly occur, radiation levels arising from an accident would never be sufficiently high to give rise to these effects," she said.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has previously supported the RPII's contention the programme overlooked and failed to acknowledge some "basic facts".
"In particular, the fact that the Government has in place a National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents has not received the attention it deserves. This is a matter of major importance to every citizen of this country," said Minister Roche.
He added that expert advice and the experiences of New York, London and Madrid showed that the possibilities of massive and immediate health impacts, rioting and extreme societal breakdown - as portrayed by the programme - was extreme.
Last week, however, Fallout director David Caffrey insisted the drama was heavily researched and the events depicted "absolutely possible".
British nuclear expert John Large, a technical consultant, added that the Irish emergency services would struggle to cope with such a disaster and that the drama was a "very accurate portrayal of what could happen".