Nuclear power - Weighing up our options

Ireland will have a nuclear power plant within 25 years, according to Pádraig McManus, chief executive of the Electricity Supply Board.

The ESB was advocating nuclear power more than a quarter of a century ago, but the idea was scrapped after it met with a storm of opposition.

Within the next quarter of a century Mr McManus predicts that oil and gas will no longer be available. As a result the country would become totally dependent on coal as the alternative energy source. This would run counter to the country’s commitments to bring down carbon emissions.

Many of the experts argue that there is no alternative to nuclear power, if the country is serious about meeting its Kyoto Protocol obligations. Nuclear power does not generate carbon dioxide.

This country was not able to meet its own demands for coal in the past. There are no grounds for thinking it could meet with the increased demand that would be required to have coal replace gas and oil.

Nuclear power could provide a means for the country to become largely self-sufficient in energy on a continuing basis. This time there must be calm consideration and rational debate in considering the nuclear option.