Views on the safety of the Sellafield nuclear processing plant should be based on scientific fact and not emotion, a top Northern Ireland minister has said.

Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt told a conference in Dublin he shared concerns about the Cumbrian plant, but he cautioned against "scaremongering".

He was speaking at the Making Sense of Sellafield conference, hosted by the Irish government and Northern Ireland Executive on Thursday.

The conference, attended by international experts on nuclear power, took place a week after Greenpeace trailed two nuclear freighters in the Irish Sea as they made their way back to Sellafield from Japan.

Factual evidence

Mr Nesbitt said: "We must base our comments on the scientific facts.

"Too often, emotion displaces factual evidence."

Mr Nesbitt told the conference he had visited the Sellafield plant in Cumbria in June.

"I also took the opportunity to visit the Pacific Sandpiper ship at Barrow-in-Furness.

"This ship is used to transport spent nuclear fuel from overseas to Sellafield.

"I saw and heard much. I am now better informed. My impressions of Sellafield were of a site well run and well managed, by thoroughly professional and dedicated staff.

Mr Nesbitt said he shares concerns over Sellafield

"It also gave me direct insight into the approach taken to safety and security at the plant.

"Nevertheless, my department will continue to monitor and assess the impact of discharges from Sellafield on the Northern Ireland coastline and to provide public assurance."

However, Mr Nesbitt said that there were difficult choices ahead.

"It might, for example, be argued that, confronted by climate change, we need to consider further the option of nuclear power," he said.

"Public perception is most important and every effort should be made to promote high quality debate and public participation in the decision-making process."