Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his response to the proposal of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to conduct a public debate on nuclear power in the autumn session of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26660/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has confirmed that the long-standing statutory ban on nuclear power generation in Ireland will remain.

Given that nuclear power is back on the international agenda because of sustainability and security of supply concerns, it is clear that all the issues and implications inherent in nuclear power will continue to be the subject of international debate from all kinds of perspectives.

In that context I have no particular difficulty in principle with the proposal of the Joint Committee to conduct a debate under its auspices on nuclear generated electricity. It is a matter for the Committee itself to pursue the scope for conducting this debate in the context of Oireachtas business procedures.