Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Can you comment on the reports that the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, the external agency under the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), may be physically installed in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)? In other words, can you discuss whether such a possibility exists or not?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I understand that Minister Goshi Hosono is also giving a press conference at MOE. From my side, I will say that the major premise is that the bill is first deliberated and passed at the Diet. In the context of establishing this agency, what is important is that we keep Fukushima in our heads at all times and that seamless and thorough efforts are made to take emergency responses and to ensure the safety of nuclear reactors. Minister Hosono has long been saying from the start or from previously that it is not optimal for the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) to stay the same as before, including from the perspective of its image. I understand Minister Hosono expressed his belief that it is not desirable for the new agency to "rent" space in the same location as NISA. But first, the Government believes that what is important above all is to get this bill passed by the Diet.

(Abridged)