International

Radiation does not respect borders and so must be addressed at an international level. To help this process, Ireland is a member of a number of organisations that put radiation monitoring and protection high on their agenda. They include:

• Environmental Sector Group of the British-Irish Council.
• OSPAR Commission. The Commission manages the work of the 1992 OSPAR Convention. It provides a basis for international cooperation on the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. Its key roles contribute to international peace and security, and to the World's Millennium Goals for social, economic and environmental development.
• OECD - Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The mission of the NEA is to assist its member countries in maintaining and further developing, through international co-operation, the scientific, technological and legal bases required for the safe, environmentally friendly and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
• European Commission. The EC is in charge of radiation protection in Europe. Ireland has expressed concern to the EU about a number of older Chernobyl-style nuclear reactors in Central and Eastern European countries.

Ireland is also involved with many international conventions which deal with the regulating and monitoring of radiation levels.