Install solar panels in all new houses - Achieving energy security

THOUGH it’s nearly 40 years since Ireland’s anti-nuclear movement held a festival at Carnsore Point in Wexford — Ireland’s Woodstock, social historians assure us — to protest at plans to build a nuclear power plant there, we still import around 90% of our energy needs. 

Some of this energy is generated at nuclear plants in Britain, allowing some of us to mix virtue and hypocrisy in a peculiarly Irish way just as we do on neutrality. We are happy to enjoy the security and prosperity made possible by Europe’s energy and peace, but take what we imagine is the high moral ground by refusing to even discuss building a nuclear plant or that we might have a moral obligation to help defend that peace.

In the 38 years since Christy Moore topped the Carnsore bill , there have been three significant incidents at the world’s 444 nuclear plants. As of May, 63 nuclear plants were under construction in 15 countries. Since then Britain decided to build one at Hinckley Point where 7% of Britain’s energy will be generated. Some of it may even be exported to Ireland.