New group campaigns for nuclear power plant

A NEW campaign group of scientists, businessmen and academics yesterday called on the Government to open the way for a nuclear energy station in Ireland.

The generation of electricity by nuclear fission is banned under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999.

Yet, Ireland imports nuclear power from Britain via electricity interconnectors with the UK, the group notes.

Better Environment with Nuclear Energy (BENE) aims to persuade government, policy makers, industry and the public of the benefits of nuclear power.

Ahead of the Government’s plan to publish a green paper on energy policy shortly, the BENE hopes to mobilise public support for the nuclear option.

“We believe that the Government has a role in leading public opinion on this matter and we do not feel it has led public opinion in a positive manner,” said BENE spokesman John Stafford.

The group believes there are risks associated with nuclear power but claim they are manageable and acceptable. On the other hand, the group says, the risks associated with global warming are not manageable or acceptable.

“The nuclear debate in Ireland has been more emotional than rational,” said Mr Stafford, an accountant, business adviser and consultant.

The group said recent comments by the Economic and Social Research Institute that the Republic was too small for nuclear power were “mistaken”. It claims nuclear power stations can be as small as 650 megawatts in capacity.

A statement said members of the group were private individuals representing only themselves and BENE was not funded by any company or organisation associated with the nuclear industry.

Members of the group include David Sowby, former scientific secretary to the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

Another member is Philip W Walton, who worked at NUI Galway as Professor of Applied Physics from 1978, for 27 years. He is retired.

Frank J Turvey is a former assistant chief executive of the Irish Radiological Protection Institute. Another member, Jim Morrissey, has 15 years’ experience in a nuclear research centre.

Theirs is the second call for a rational debate on nuclear energy in recent months. Earlier this year, the cross-party Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources said a calm debate was needed rather than emotively dismissing nuclear power out of hand.