Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said that Ireland demonstrates a strong commitment to nuclear and radiation safety. The team’s review, held from 19 to 28 January, found Ireland to be in compliance with IAEA safety standards, recognizing the national regulators as independent, competent and trusted.
The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, conducted at the request of the Government of Ireland and hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aimed to review Ireland’s governmental, legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety.
Ireland uses radioactive sources in medicine, industry and other applications. It has no nuclear power or research reactors. The previous IRRS mission to Ireland was carried out in 2015. Since then, Ireland has designated the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), an independent authority that promotes safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services in Ireland, to regulate medical exposure to ionizing radiation to ensure patient safety. The EPA remains the regulatory body responsible for radiation protection of workers and the public.
The 10-day IRRS mission covered all facilities, activities and exposure situations regulated in Ireland. Based on IAEA safety standards and taking advantage of international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.
The IRRS team – comprising 11 regulatory experts from ten countries, as well as two IAEA staff members – conducted interviews and discussions with the EPA, HIQA, the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, and the Department of Health. Members of the IRRS team also observed regulatory oversight activities at Engineering Inspection Specialists, the Hermitage Clinic and Beaumont Hospital.
“The IRRS team was very impressed with the high degree of commitment and professionalism demonstrated by our Irish counterparts,” said the IRRS team leader Mika Markkanen, Principal Advisor for the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) in Finland. “Their focus on continuous improvement of the legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiological safety in Ireland is commendable.”
The IRRS team acknowledged a good practice in the establishment and implementation of the EPA’s Generative AI Policy to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of regulatory processes and to leverage the use of AI in assistive technologies. The team also identified good performances, including HIQA’s justification process for medical exposure, along with its guidelines for radiological procedures on asymptomatic individuals, to safeguard patients and the public from unnecessary radiation exposure.
Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the overall effectiveness of Ireland’s regulatory system included:
- Making provision for the long-term management or disposal of all disused radioactive sources and radioactive waste;
- Establishing and maintaining a national dose register; and
- Establishing and implementing a coordination process between the EPA and HIQA to share relevant information when granting authorizations for medical facilities.
On behalf of the Irish Government, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, and the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said they “welcome the findings of this IRRS Mission and will use this opportunity to consider and prioritize future actions to further strengthen Ireland’s regulatory safety framework.”
The final mission report will be provided to the Government of Ireland within about three months. Ireland plans to make the report publicly available.
IAEA Safety Standards
The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.