Nuclear option needs objective assessment

IT is difficult to understand the logic behind the opposition of Energy Minister Eamon Ryan to the mining of uranium and the development of nuclear power in Ireland.

Without doubt, uranium mining is environmentally destructive and the development of nuclear power involves certain risks. However, in the absence of any coherent energy policy, if the minster is going to do nothing to counteract increasing demand for energy, then nuclear power is the least evil.

Renewables (wind, tidal, hydro, etc) cannot keep pace with growth, biofuel is a non-starter, and the only alternative would be peat or coal.