Unions call for debate on use of nuclear power

THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) yesterday called for a debate on whether Ireland should resort to nuclear power.

Launching an ICTU briefing paper on energy, general secretary David Begg said the country had to face “hard facts” on the issue.

“Over the next 20 years, our population is forecast to grow to 5.5 million. That has huge implications for energy supply,” he said.

“In that context we should not foreclose, or rule out, one serious possible option, namely nuclear power, especially given our high dependency on fossil fuels.”

The Government has consistently ruled out using nuclear power. But Mr Begg said it would have to be considered if there was not major societal and economic change: “We need a grown-up national debate on this issue. Either we discover wholly new sources of energy, dramatically change our lifestyles and how we manage the economy, or we consider nuclear. We cannot sleepwalk into the future.”

His statements are in line with the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which in a report last year said the question of using nuclear power in Ireland could no longer be ignored. The committee warned that, with just three months of oil reserves and only enough gas in storage to last two days, the country was potentially facing a crippling fuel crisis.

Last night, committee chairman, Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn, said the matter should be a priority for the incoming Dáil.