Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to raise the possible siting of a nuclear power station here, under the UK Energy Review, at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9409/06]

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has discussed the UK Energy Review, and its nuclear power implications, with any other fellow EU members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 79 together.

Following the recent announcement regarding a review of the United Kingdom's progress under the medium and long-term goals of the White Paper on Energy 2003, a consultation document entitled Our Energy Challenge: Securing clean, affordable energy for the long term was launched on 23 January by the UK Secretary of State and the Minister for Energy. While the UK White Paper on Energy 2003 concluded that replacement nuclear build was an unattractive alternative, the current consultation document states that the forthcoming review will examine whether recent changes in energy prices have changed that assessment. It will also examine other issues in relation to nuclear including the important issue of waste.

My Department, in conjunction with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, will fully engage in this consultation process on all relevant issues including the potential siting of new nuclear reactors should the decision be made by the UK to proceed with building additional nuclear capacity. At a recent meeting in London with the Northern Secretary, the Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed that the Irish Government would be strongly opposed to the building of any new nuclear plants on the island of Ireland.

Ireland remains firmly opposed to the nuclear industry on the grounds of the many risks it poses to human health, the environment and the economy, as well as risks associated with waste and transport. Environmental consequences have arisen for Ireland from historic and ongoing discharges to the sea from Sellafield and the potential risk for a serious accident or incident at nuclear plants including Sellafield. Any proposals by the UK to develop new nuclear capacity must be addressed in this context.

The sourcing and nature of energy supplies is a matter for decision by each individual member state within the EU including the UK. The views in relation to nuclear energy among member states are divided. For example, France sources almost 80% of its energy requirements from nuclear while Belgium, Germany and Sweden have nuclear phase-out policies. Member states such as Ireland, Austria and Denmark have stated policies against nuclear power and Ireland co-operates in the EU on a regular basis with like-minded countries on the nuclear issue. While I have not, as yet, had an opportunity to discuss the UK Energy Review and associated issues with my fellow EU Ministers, I met EU Commissioners Andris Piebalgs — Energy — and Franco Frattini — Security — in Brussels in January. While these meetings primarily concentrated on issues relating to Sellafield, I took the opportunity to convey Ireland's views on nuclear energy generally in a forthright manner.