Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the issue of the development of a network of nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom with his UK counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25130/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The UK Government is in no doubt as to the Government's views in relation to the risks posed to Ireland by nuclear facilities on the west coast of Great Britain, including Sellafield and Wylfa. Our views in this regard have been expressed strongly and repeatedly.

Together with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, I met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Peter Hain, at a British — Irish Council meeting in London, on 2 June. We took the opportunity at that meeting to emphasise that the Government would be strongly opposed to the building of any nuclear plant in Northern Ireland. The Northern Secretary has acknowledged the lack of support for any such move.

As the House is aware, the United Kingdom is currently considering its future energy needs and reviewing its capacity to meet them. As part of this review, a consultation document was launched on 23 January 2006 by the UK Minister of State for Energy. Entitled Our Energy Challenge: Securing Clean Affordable Energy for the Long Term , this document states that the review will consider whether nuclear power should continue to be part of the mix of energy supplies for the UK in the future. While the review is not yet complete, Prime Minister Blair has clearly indicated his view that new nuclear builds in the UK should remain very much on the agenda.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in conjunction with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, engaged in the consultation process relating to the review. The submission made, which covered a number of issues of concern to Ireland, reiterated the Government's strong opposition to nuclear power in general and to the siting of any nuclear plants on the island of Ireland in particular. We are monitoring the progress of the UK review closely.