Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I support the views expressed by the other speakers on this side of the House on the issue under discussion and I emphasise the need, at a time when the entire energy issue is at a crossroads and when alternatives are being sought, to have due regard for health and safety, sustainability and renewability. If those issues are kept to the fore, there would be less need for certain interests to emphasise reliance on nuclear energy. I will not rehearse the comments of previous speakers regarding the safety of Sellafield. Every knows the position in that regard.

I recently read articles in some newspapers to the effect that nuclear energy is a natural option, that it is quite safe and that nobody has ever died from it. Each of the articles was rubbish. I am sure the Minister read them. They contained the most extraordinary affirmations from people who were supposed to be scientifically inclined. They attempted to say that the nuclear energy is fine and that it is stable. It is not stable and the technology is not available to make it stable. Other European countries rely on it as a power source only because they have alternative back-ups and they are in a position to marry the two. We need to rely on a different marriage between renewables and what we have at present and to move towards those that are likely to give us a cleaner environment.

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