Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I share the Deputy's view that the planning process about to be embarked upon in the United Kingdom is less than satisfactory. It is certainly less open, transparent and democratically acceptable than the Irish system. I have made clear, particularly in my meeting with Mr. Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the predecessors of Mr. David Miliband, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, that we do not agree with the build-up policy with which the British Government seems intent on pressing ahead. We have made it very clear that there is widespread opposition, not just in the Government parties, but across the entire democratic spectrum in Ireland. We have made it very clear that there are great concerns here.

We have also made clear to them that we have the right to do so, and, to be fair, they have accepted we have a view that must be factored in. The general issue encompasses the fact that we will continue to build as many alliances as we can on this, and not just across the Irish Sea. There are also concerns among other governments within the European Union. There is an increasing dawning of reality in Europe that the nuclear initiative, whatever else it is, is not the answer to global warming or the energy crisis. It is simply putting off the crisis and imposing on future generations the cost of dealing with energy issues today. The Deputy may feel assured that at each and every opportunity we will pursue the matter, and I am sure we shall have his support in so doing.

See this speech in context