Annual Report & Accounts 2011
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Annual Repo rt & Ac counts 2011 Ra diological Pr otection Institute of Ireland Contact Us Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland 3 Clonskeagh Square Annual Report Dublin 14 Ireland Tel: 01 2697766 & Accounts 2011 Fax: 01 2697437 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rpii.ie Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm Abbreviations and acronyms To the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government In accordance with the requirements of the Radiological Protection Act, 1991, I have the honour to present ALARA: As low as reasonably achievable IAEA: International Atomic Energy Working Group Agency the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts of the ALMERA: Analytical Laboratories for RASSC: Radiation Safety Standards Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland for the year the Measurement of Environmental ICG: IAEA emergency notification system Committee Radioactivity (OSPAR) ended 31 December 2011. RCSI: Royal College of Surgeons in AWIG: Analysts Informal Working Group ICRP: International Commission on Ireland Radiological Protection BAT: Best Available Techniques RPA: Radiation Protection Adviser ICSD: Ionisation chamber smoke Bq/l: becquerels per litre RPII: Radiological Protection Institute of detectors Ireland Prof William Reville Bq/m3: becquerels per cubic metre ICT: Information Communications RSC: Radioactive Substances Committee Chairman CBRN: Chemical-Biological-Radiological- Technology (OSPAR) Nuclear INAB: Irish National Accreditation Board SEAI: Sustainable Energy Authority of ConvEx: Conventions (on International INES: International Nuclear and Ireland Notification and Assistance in the event radiological of a nuclear accident) Exercise SI: Statutory Instrument Event Scale C&AG: Comptroller and Auditor General SSDL: IAEA’s Secondary Standard IRAC: Ionising Radiation Advisory Dosimetry Network CAC: Communications Advisory Committee Committee UCD: University College Dublin IRMF: Ionising Radiation Metrology CNS: Convention on Nuclear Safety Forum UK-EA: UK Environment Agency CSN: Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear IRRS: Integrated Regulatory Review UK-HPA: UK Health Protection Agency Mission Statement DAFF: Department of Agriculture, Service UK-HSE-ND: UK Health and Safety Fisheries and Forestry LIMS: Laboratory Information Executive-Nuclear Directorate DCENR: Department of Communications, Management System UK-NPL: UK National Physical Laboratory Energy and mSv: millisievert UK-NDA: UK Nuclear Decommissioning “To ensure that people in Ireland Natural Resources MoU: Memorandum of Understanding Authority DCU: Dublin City University MOX: Mixed Oxide Fuel USIE: Unified System for Information DECLG: Department of the Environment, Exchange in Incidents and Emergencies are protected from the harmful NCG: National Co-ordination Group Community & Local Government NCCP: National Cancer Control ECURIE: European Community Urgent WHO: World Health Organisation Programme Radiological Information Exchange effects of radiation.” NDA: Nuclear Decommissioning EGIR: Expert Group on Ionising Radiation Authority (UK) EMERCON: Emergency Convention NEA: Nuclear Energy Agency Dose limits and (IAEA emergency notification system) NEA-WPNEM: NEA Working Party on reference levels ENSREG: European Nuclear Safety Nuclear Emergency Matters Regulators Group NEPNA: National Emergency Plan for EPA: Environmental Protection Agency The dose limit for a member of the Nuclear Accidents public is 1 mSv EPR: European Pressurised Reactor NEWS: Nuclear Events Web Based System in any 12-month period. ERPAN: European Radiation Protection NIEA: Northern Ireland Environment Authorities Network The dose limit for radiation workers Agency EURADOS: European External Dosimetry is 20 mSv in any 12-month period. NORM: Naturally Occurring Radioactive Group Additional limits apply to exposure Materials EURNMET: European Metrology Group to specific parts of the body. NPP: Nuclear Power Plant FSAI: Food Safety Authority of Ireland The reference level for radon in NRPA: Norwegian Radiation Protection 3 GDA: Generic Design Assessment Authority homes is 200 Bq/m . HAL: Highly Active Liquor ONR: Office for Nuclear Regulation (UK) The reference level for radon in HALES: Highly Active Liquor Evaporation OSPAR: Oslo-Paris Convention workplaces is and Storage 3 PMDS: Performance Management and 400 Bq/m . HASS: High Activity Sealed Sources Development System The reference level for radon in HASTS: Highly Active Storage Tanks 3 © 2012 Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland PRMG: Personal Radiation Monitoring schools is 200 Bq/m . HLG: High Level Group Group Published by: Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, QCS: Quality Customer Services 3 Clonskeagh Square, Dublin 14. HSA: Health and Safety Authority QCSWG: Quality Customer Services Telephone: 01-2697766. HSE: Health Service Executive www.rpii.ie This report is available in Irish at www.rpii.ie 2 71 Contents Who we are and what we do 2 Strategic priorities for the RPII 2011-2013 3 Chairman’s statement 4 Chief Executive’s statement 6 Regulation and licensing 14 Exposure of the Irish population to radiation 22 Radon 27 Radiation measurement services 32 Emergency preparedness 35 Safety of nuclear facilities abroad 38 RPII response to Fukushima 41 Corporate support services 45 Our governance 51 Financial statements 57 Abbreviations and acronyms 71 1 Who we are and what we do The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) is the national organisation with responsibility for ensuring that people and the environment in Ireland are protected from the harmful effects of ionising radiation. The RPII fulfils its remit by strong and effective regulation of all those who use radiation sources and by working in partnership with other regulatory authorities. The RPII monitors people’s exposure to radiation and provides advice to the public and the Government on radiation sources, and on the corresponding risks and their management. The RPII is central to Ireland’s emergency preparedness in the event of a nuclear accident abroad and also monitors developments in relation to nuclear installations abroad. It has no role in the promotion or otherwise of nuclear power. The RPII is committed to scientific excellence, and its advice is based on internationally agreed standards and on peer-reviewed research. The RPII was established in 1992 under the Radiological Protection Act, 1991 and is financed by a grant from the Exchequer and by income from licence fees and radiation measurement services. The licence fees and charges for measurement services are approved by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The RPII is an independent regulatory authority. 2 Strategic priorities for the RPII 2011-2013 The RPII has developed a clear strategy to strengthen • To work in partnership with others to implement radiation protection in Ireland over the three year national radiological protection initiatives. period, 2011 to 2013. This is set out in full in the RPII In the RPII’s experience, high standards of radiation Strategic Plan 2011–2013. protection cannot be achieved by the RPII acting The RPII has developed four strategic priorities for alone. This strategic priority recognises that others the coming period, with specific objectives for each have responsibilities and that the RPII must work in priority, underpinned in each case by key themes partnership with them. The objectives focus on two of public value, transparency, communication and important gaps in the national radiation protection sustainability. The four strategic priorities are: infrastructure – a national radon strategy and a national strategy for the management of radioactive • To provide the expertise, technical capability waste. They also deal with the new directives that and information essential to the protection of are expected to be issued during the lifetime of the the Irish population and the environment. plan. This strategic priority encompasses a number of the key statutory functions of the RPII – monitoring • To deliver value to the public in everything we radiation levels in the environment, informing do. people of our findings, and advising the public and This strategic priority is focused on enhancing the Government of the implications of all radiation overall public value of the RPII by optimising the exposures. The objectives under this priority use of resources within and external to the RPII. In reflect the central importance of these activities supporting the Government’s drive for reform in the to radiation protection in Ireland. The RPII will public sector, the RPII will take a flexible approach undertake much of the work itself, but it will also to organisational arrangements, provided the needs seek to have information and services provided of stakeholders are met. Internally, the RPII will build externally, where this represents better value for on its strengths and improve any areas of weakness. money without compromising overall quality. Externally, it will use its influence with partners to leverage greater value. • To regulate the safe and secure use of ionising radiationn i Ireland in a sustainable and transparent manner. This strategic priority is focused on the system of regulation, a key statutory function of the RPII. While acknowledging that the current regulatory system is effective, the objectives under this priority seek to enhance it by taking a risk-based approach to authorisation and by increasing transparency. 3 Chairman’s statement I have pleasure in presenting