Ahern and Blair clash over Mox fuel plant

Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern, clashed yesterday over plans to build a reprocessing plant at the Sellafield complex in Cumbria.

The two prime ministers, who have worked closely together on the Northern Ireland peace process, had a heated exchange over the proposed £500m mixed oxide (Mox) plant at Sellafield when they met at Dublin Castle. Mr Blair also rebuffed Mr Ahern's plea for the plant to be shut.

The Irish government has worried for a long time about the prospects of a nuclear accident at Sellafield, which is closer to Dublin than London. It fears that pollution of the Irish Sea by radioactive materials has caused above-average rates of cancer on Ireland's east coast. Dublin has demanded a full-scale review of safety procedures since the 11 September terrorist attacks and has warned that the plant could become a target.

The dispute was at a meeting of the British-Irish Council, which was set up as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Blair admitted afterwards that the Irish government's views had been "forcibly expressed" to him. He insisted that fears about the Mox plant had to be based on firm evidence, which, he said, had yet to be presented.

"It is important that we proceed according to evidence. But that is not to say we do not understand at all, or we do not listen," Mr Blair said. "If anyone was at risk, the people at risk would be British – as well as Irish."

Mr Ahern said: "I re-stated the Irish government position, and the Prime Minister is familiar with it. It is a serious issue of concern to the Irish people, both north and south."

The Irish have pledged to block the Sellafield plan in the European Court and are challenging it under the international law of the sea. A United Nations tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict on Monday.

The second meeting of the British-Irish Council went ahead after a series of postponements generated by failure to advance the Northern Ireland peace process.

The breakthrough came with October's historic move towards decommissioning by the IRA and subsequent re-election of the Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, as the First Minister of the Northern Ireland executive.

Mr Blair talked of his "joy" at the new circumstances that allowed the meeting to take place. The progress enabled the two leaders to discuss other issues including the shared threat of drug trafficking, as well as the environment, social inclusion, transport and the knowledge economy.