Taoiseach: We should 'seriously examine' nuclear power

Speaking in Armenia, Micheál Martin said that Ireland relies too much on imported energy

Cooling tower and the two reactors of the nuclear power plant of Civaux, central France. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested that Ireland should “examine seriously” introducing nuclear energy. Picture: Getty Images)

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested that Ireland should “examine seriously” the prospect of introducing nuclear energy.

He made the comments at a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Armenia, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Europe needs to become less reliant on fossil fuels.

Speaking to reporters in Yerevan, Mr Martin said that Ireland relies too much on imported energy.

The Taoiseach said that while progress had been made in renewable energy generation, alternative sources of energy should also be explored.

"We should explore all avenues," he said.

"We've witnessed over the last 50 years periodic moments of volatility and energy insecurity because of our over-reliance on imported fossil fuels.

"We certainly should look at and examine options like nuclear power seriously, simply examine the advances in technology that have occurred."

Mr Martin previously said that he was “open” to the idea of nuclear energy, but admitted that the main obstacle would be the cost.

Speaking at the EPC in Armenia, Ms Von der Leyen said Europe has to reduce its energy dependency and become more self-sufficient.

“We are too overdependent on imported fossil fuels, and therefore always dependent on volatile global markets,” she said.

“We have to increase our assets at home in Europe, and these are the renewable energies and nuclear energy. Because they are homegrown, they are cheaper, and they are reliable.” 

James O’Connor, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East, has now drafted legislation that would legalise nuclear energy. It will be debated in the coming months.

Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers also suggested last month that he believed there needed to be a “debate and a policy discussion on nuclear energy”.

Speaking in Brussels, meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that Ireland is too reliant on “dirty fossil fuels”.

“It’s essential that we are restless to do more in terms of securing our own energy security,” he said.

“We cannot have a situation where we continue to be reliant on dirty imported fossil fuels from far-flung locations across the world. We have now seen, over the course of half a decade, two significant energy shocks in Europe – One caused by the brutal, illegal invasion of Ukraine, the other caused by the war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We cannot continue to be surprised by these shocks. We have to be restless in terms of moving to renewables, and in terms of looking at what we can do as a European Union and as individual member states, to help households, to help businesses, and help our country and our European Union, more broadly, be much more energy resilient.”