1987: The Government announces its determination to seek international agreement for an independent nuclear inspection force, to include monitoring of Sellafield discharges.
1988: Ireland calls again for Sellafield closure following acknowledgment in Britain that Windscale fire data was suppressed by the UK government.
1989: The Government underlines commitment to force Sellafield's closure due to discharges threat to Ireland, but declines to take legal action following consultations with the Attorney General.
1991: The Dail is told that increased discharges do not open way to new legal case.
1993: The Conservative government promises its international neighbours to reduce discharges but with the opening of THORP reprocessing plant, discharges increased.
1994: With new technologies come new discharges; notably of technetium-99 (Tc-99), a radionuclide and product of Sellafield's clearing-up of what are described as "historic wastes".
1997: THORP goes into full production with BNFL claiming to have an order book of £12 billion.
1998: BNFL applies for a new discharge licence (increasing some gas and liquid discharges, reducing others). Decision is delayed. With increased international opposition due to unprecedented levels of Tc99 contamination in Irish and Nordic waters, it may be subjected to ministerial consideration.