Fears over plans for nuclear reactors

By Mary Regan Political Reporter

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

THE Government is to raise concerns with British authorities over the wave of nuclear power plants which will be built along the Irish Sea by 2018.

Officials from the Department of the Environment will meet their British counterparts today after Minister John Gormley said he was concerned about plans for the plants.

Mr Gormley told the Dáil his priority was "the safety of the Irish people and the protection of the environment".

He already raised the issue with the British ambassador after it was announced 10 reactors would be built by 2018, including seven on the Irish Sea.

During Dáil questions, Mr Gormley also revealed the Dublin Docklands Development Authority has reported an operating loss of €27million for last year.

It has also written down €50m on the value of the Dublin Glass Bottle site.

This was described as "one of the biggest scandals seen in a long time" by Fine Gael’s Phil Hogan, who called for greater oversight of the organisation.

The authority is not subjected to audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General & but is to appear before an Oireachtas committee next week.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, November 25, 2009