We can’t afford to ignore nuclear energy

INDEED, it would be wonderful if renewable sources, especially wind, could replace some imported energy (Feb 4). However, the contribution obtainable from renewables is strictly limited, due to their intermittent nature.

Ireland badly needs economic and secure low-carbon sources of electricity generation. Nuclear power provides a proven, economic means of generating a safe and secure, low-carbon baseload electricity, which has been successfully used for decades by many EU and other countries. In this country we can no longer afford to exclude it from consideration for ideological reasons, or in a mistaken belief that all our needs for low-carbon electricity can be supplied by renewables.

The 31st Dáil should, therefore, establish an expert group to assess nuclear power’s potential for Ireland, and to do this calmly, objectively and critically, on its technical and economic merits and not on preconceived dogma.