'Ireland can't afford to miss tidal power opportunity'

Ireland missed an opportunity after failing to invest properly in wind energy, Minister for the Environment John Gormley said today.

The potential to harness tidal power must not be lost in a similar fashion, John Gormley added.

The Green Party leader underlined his opposition to a nuclear power plant at Derry and said delegates at the annual conference in Belfast could capitalise on growing concern about climate change.

“Tidal power is an area where we need to invest and this is an opportunity for Ireland that we can’t afford to miss,” he said.

“We missed out on the opportunity for wind power and we can’t afford to let this happen again.”

Rathlin Island, Co Antrim, and Strangford Lough, Co Down, have been considered for tidal power projects in the North, a move which could make the island a world leader in green technology, Mr Gormley added.

“I spoke about wind power in the early 1980’s and it was pooh-poohed,” he added.

“The Danes and the Germans didn’t have the same attitude and made the investment and became world leaders, even though their resources were not a fraction of ours.

“We have these resources in our seas and elsewhere and we need to tap into climate change and energy efficiency needs to go centre-stage in northern politics.”

The Minister added that green energy had been propelled up the public agenda by fears over global warming.

Nuclear power has been touted as an alternative to burning fossil fuels which release carbon gases.

North west businessman Robert Andrews made a presentation to Derry City Council in 2006 claiming a nuclear plant would boost the economy.

He wanted a plant that would generate 2,000 megawatt hours at the old power station in Coolkeeragh.

The Council unanimously rejected the plan.

Mr Gormley said relations with the UK over Sellafield had improved, with more information available to his officials.

“There are always concerns about safety when it comes to nuclear power, there will always be safety concerns, and the only way we can address those concerns is to have better access to records and greater transparency,” he added.

“As a Government Minister I respect the right of any state to set up its energy mixture and certainly in my discussions with British ministers we have always taken that view.”