Person: Patrick L O’Brien

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

columnists

Five reasons why it is folly to adopt wind power as an energy source

While the arguments for wind power seem straightforward and compelling, Wind power would reduce our dependency on foreign oil, wind power is clean and would allow for the shut down of dirty fossil fuel fired power plants.

Attitude of asylum seekers shows ‘ingratitude’

Going nuclear is most effective and safest way

GAA facing music

Charity begins at home

Irish Water controversy

The winds of change always entail profit

Patrick L O’Brien (‘The Renewable Energy Debate is Just Hot Air’, 7/1/14) decries energy policy that promotes the use of local, sustainable, clean sources to reduce our consumption of imported, scarce and dirty fossil fuels.

Tue, 14 Jan, 2014

Recent weather is not a product of climate change

Apropos the front page Irish Examiner headline ‘Global Warming Winter Storms’, I should like to remind readers that weather systems are mainly driven by natural and geophysical phenomena and which in a cyclical manner over time may vary from moderate to extreme.

Sat, 11 Jan, 2014

Our hard-earned cash left on drawing board

It beggars belief that €225m of hard-pressed Irish taxpayers’ money has been spent on transport infrastructure project proposals that never got off the drawing board.

Fri, 10 Jan, 2014

The renewable energies debate is just hot air

The spectre of global warming and the political panic surrounding it has triggered a gold rush for renewable energy sources without a discussion of the merits and drawbacks of each.

Tue, 07 Jan, 2014

Ireland should build a nuclear power plant

The letter from Dr Edward Hogan in the Irish Examiner (Oct 26), regarding the UK nuclear power plant to be built at Hinkley is based on unfounded pop-science.

Tue, 29 Oct, 2013

Wind and renewables are about trying harder

In response to the letter by Patrick L O’Brien (Jul 29), I’ve had a few ideas.

Thu, 01 Aug, 2013

Wind power benefits just don’t add up

In the light of the recent prolonged calm anti-cyclonic conditions prevalent in this country, it will not be reassuring to the hard-pressed Irish taxpayers that the subsidies (from taxpayers’ purses) to the Irish wind energy sector are providing very little payback by way of wind-generated energy.

Mon, 29 Jul, 2013

Big pension payouts to TDs ‘beggar belief’

It beggars belief that two former Fianna Fáil taoisigh and four ministers received such gross ministerial payouts, mindful of the fact that each of these individuals were in a party responsible for the current economic crisis this country is in.

Wed, 03 Oct, 2012

Expel Papal Nuncio

IN the light of the findings of the Cloyne Report the Irish Government should do the honourable thing and (a) break off diplomatic relations with the Vatican and (b) expel the Papal Nuncio.

Tue, 19 Jul, 2011

Case to answer?

ICELAND’S former prime minister Geir Haarde has been referred to a special court in a move that could make him the first world leader to be charged in connection with the global financial crisis.

Thu, 30 Sep, 2010

Look to legislation for water protection

THE ongoing war of words in relation to the proposal to abstract water from the Shannon river basin, so as to make up the shortfall of water resources necessary to satisfy the drinking water needs of Dublin is rather churlish.

Wed, 04 Aug, 2010

Global warming disaster hype threatens to land us with the biggest bill in history

IN recent decades we have been led to believe mankind faces catastrophe from global warming, and how that persuaded politicians to land us with what promises to be the biggest bill in history.

Mon, 22 Feb, 2010

Global warming case has fallen asunder

IT is rather unlikely that any of us will still be alive 100 years from now. Consequently, we won’t learn of the disappointment expressed at the ridiculous attempts in our lifetime at trying to counter global warming in the belief it was manmade.

Sat, 06 Feb, 2010

Waste of resources in a changing climate

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen now says the hard-pressed Irish taxpayer will have to fork out to combat spurious climate change events, despite the fact that the Irish economy is in free-fall.

Sat, 06 Sep, 2008

Nuclear power back in fashion worldwide

IN his recent comments on global energy, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan should have taken account of the fact that nuclear power is the only source of carbon–free electricity.

Fri, 25 Jul, 2008

Denial is no answer to global warming

IN his letter on global warming (July 5), Patrick L O’Brien argues that because the earth’s climate has changed naturally in the past, present climate change cannot be man-made.

Mon, 14 Jul, 2008

Wasted effort

IT is unlikely that any of us will still be alive 100 years from now. Consequently, we won’t learn of the disappointment at the ridiculous attempts in our lifetime to try to counter global warming in the belief that it was a man-made.

Sat, 05 Jul, 2008

One answer to our greatest ever challenge

THE response by Adam Douglas (Letters, April 14) to my letter (April 5) is typical of the mindset of the anti–nuclear lobby.

Fri, 02 May, 2008

Chernobyl ‘distortion’ in anti-nuclear argument

LIKE Patrick L O’Brien (Letters, April 5), I have experience working in the Ukraine on an EU project — in my case for seven months between 2000 and 2003.

Thu, 24 Apr, 2008

An option that isn’t worth considering

I’M afraid Patrick L O’Brien needs a reality check if he believes nuclear power is the future (Letters, April 5).

Mon, 14 Apr, 2008

Nuclear option denied us by ‘green lefties’

MATT COOPER is to be congratulated on his excellent column (March 28) on why Ireland will not be going nuclear.

Sat, 05 Apr, 2008

Anti-nuclear ‘nonsense’

PATRICK L O’BRIEN (Letters, July 6) is entirely correct to decry the “nonsense regarding the dangers of the nuclear option”.

Tue, 10 Jul, 2007

Anti-nuclear mindset is costing us dearly

RENOWNED physicist Philip Walton (Letters, June 18) extolled the virtues of nuclear energy and lamented the negative attitude prevalent in Ireland towards its adoption as an alternative to unreliable fossil sources — oil and gas.

Thu, 07 Jun, 2007

Global warming just a short chapter in long history of climate change

THERE appears to be a lot of alarmist deliberation on climate change by scientists who should know better about the consequences of global warming.

Tue, 06 Jun, 2006

Building boom not the sign of high-value economy

DESPITE the strong growth of the Irish economy, financial analysts are expressing concern that most of the employment being generated is in low productivity sectors such as construction.

Mon, 05 Jun, 2006

The sickening reality behind the Nitrates Directive

THE whole purpose of the EU Nitrates Directive as transposed into Irish law by way of regulation, is to ensure that the concentration of nitrates entering into surface and ground water is not detrimental to human health.

Mon, 06 Mar, 2006

Like it or not, nuclear is now the only option

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche has been pontificating again recently on the ills of nuclear power.

Thu, 09 Feb, 2006

Scientist wanted: NUI graduates need not apply

IN future, only those applicants with degree (preferably PhD) qualifications from the Pacific Western University in the US will be considered for some high-flying Government positions.

Fri, 25 Nov, 2005

Why more voters are choosing SF

THE suggestion by Patrick L O’Brien (Irish Examiner letters, November 11) that “any right minded Irish person” would be frightened by the prospect of Sinn Féin in government is ridiculous.

Mon, 21 Nov, 2005

Beware of Sinn Féin

THE notion of Sinn Féin in government in the South is enough to frighten any right-minded Irish person, with the exception of the disaffected and unsavoury elements from which the party draws some of its support.

Fri, 11 Nov, 2005