Nuclear option denied us by ‘green lefties’

MATT COOPER is to be congratulated on his excellent column (March 28) on why Ireland will not be going nuclear.

Clearly the Irish mindset is totally out of line with mainland Europe as regards the value of nuclear energy.

Worldwide there is a revival in the nuclear industry for cost and environmental reasons.

Ireland had the opportunity to take the nuclear option in the 1970s, thereby reducing our dependence on oil.

Instead the government of the day listened to the rantings of a bunch of green lefties rather than to cogent scientific and engineering advice.

Ever since, this country has been held to economic ransom as a consequence of its dependence on imported fossil fuel. Alternative energy sources have their merits, but in general they are not a source of consistent and reliable power. Much of the misinformation regarding nuclear energy has been promulgated by Adi Roche who excels as a philanthropist, but should remain silent on matters of nuclear engineering. Having worked and lived in Ukraine as an EU water specialist for the past 16 months, I can concur with Matt Cooper that only a handful of lives (unfortunately) were lost in the Chernobyl accident attributed to an unreliable Soviet-designed nuclear system.

Sadly, Ireland continues to be beset by spiralling energy costs and, consequently, is a much less attractive location for foreign direct investment.

Patrick L O’Brien

Clogheen-Kerry Pike

Co Cork