Suga defends Tanaka

July 8, 2014

Suga defends Tanaka appointment to NRA

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140708_22.html 

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says the appointment of a new member to Japan's nuclear watchdog poses no problem even though he has received money from power industry groups.

Suga spoke to reporters on Tuesday about the posting of University of Tokyo Professor Satoru Tanaka as a commissioner of the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

The appointment has led to criticism that Tanaka's close ties with the industry could compromise the watchdog's neutrality.

Suga said the government is aware that Tanaka had served on advisory committees to the nuclear power industry and that he was paid for that work.

But Suga said such payments were small and were made for technical advice that Tanaka provided.

The former administration of the Democratic Party set guidelines that said people who received more than about 5,000 dollars a year from the nuclear industry could not become NRA committee members.

Suga said the current administration views such matters according to the relevant laws.

Jul. 8, 2014 - Updated 05:26 UTC