Fianna Fáil backs bill to remove ban on nuclear energy

Parliamentary party hears that a conversation on nuclear energy was urgent due to the significant energy costs faced by households and businesses

Fianna Fail parliamentary party unanimously backed Cork East TD James O'Connor proposed new laws which would overturn Ireland's ban on nuclear fission. File picture: John Hennessy

Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party has backed a bill to remove the existing ban on nuclear energy.

James O’Connor proposed new laws which would overturn Ireland’s previous ban on generating electricity via nuclear fission, with the Cork East TD receiving support from the party on Tuesday.

Sources at the meeting said environment minister Darragh O’Brien backed sending the bill to the Dáil, but said the Government’s priority is on the delivery of renewable energy.

The minister told the meeting that this was to open a debate on nuclear energy, sources said.

It is understood that Mr O’Connor told the meeting that a conversation on nuclear energy was urgent due to the significant energy costs faced by households and businesses.

Nuclear 'would complement renewables'

Mr O’Connor said the introduction of nuclear power would complement renewable energy, while also reducing Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The meeting also heard the removal of the ban would be a generational decision, given the importance of electricity to power homes, vehicles and public transport.

Two other TDs, Naoise Ó Cearúil and John McGuinness, spoke in support of Mr O’Connor’s legislation.

On the party’s performance in last week’s by-elections, One TD described the meeting as being “flat”, while another said they did not believe there was an appetite in the party for “faux outrage”.

“What is going to change unless he [Taoiseach Micheál Martin] goes or someone pushes? That’s not happening,” they said.

It comes after several party sources told the Irish Examiner earlier this week that Mr Martin had damaged Fianna Fáil through an unpopular budget and response to the fuel protests.

• Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter