Political pressure at national and international level along with people power was what would close Sellafield, the Dβil was told.
"Let us send out the demand loud and clear to the British government to decommission its deadly nuclear industry now," said Mr Caoimgh∅n ╙ Caolβin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan).
The Sinn FΘin deputy was supporting the Government in a debate introduced by the Labour Party on the commissioning of the MOX plant at Sellafield. The Government's legal action should not be the only means of pressure.
Britain's announcement about the go-ahead of the MOX plant "betrays how very little regard the UK government has for the protestations of the Irish Government and only adds insult to injury", said Mr Pat Rabbitte, (Lab, Dublin South West).
If "we have been consistently lied to about safety standards it is probable that we are being lied to about security standards", he said.
Mr Noel O'Flynn (FF, Cork North Central) insisted it was the Government's aim to prevent the opening of the MOX plant and to close Sellafield. "We will not cease in our fight against this nuclear monstrosity until it is won".
Mr Willie Penrose (Lab, Westmeath) said an incident at Sellafield "has the capacity to devastate Irish agriculture and lay waste to thousands of working farms across the country".
Mr Ruair∅ Quinn, the Labour leader, said his party's motion "sets out an action plan to carry the fight against Sellafield into the international arena". Labour called for further legal action at European Court level as well as convening an international conference of concerned countries and demanding the presence of permanent Irish inspectors at the plant
The Government's amendment was a "recipe for inaction", Mr Quinn said. However, the Government defeated the Labour motion by 71 votes to 61.
