Environmental groups welcome uranium mining ban

Environmental groups are welcoming the decision by the Minister for Natural Resources Eamon Ryan to effectively ban uranium mining here.

Mr Ryan has issued a statement saying he will not grant licences to any companies seeking to carry out this work while he is in office.

The minister said it would be hypocritical to allow uranium to be mined here and used in nuclear reactors abroad, given our anti-nuclear stance.

He also said that there were significant public health and environmental concerns.