Written answers

Thursday, 29 May 2008

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Nuclear Power

5:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will explain what he means by calling for a debate on nuclear power; if he will remove the ban on nuclear power that exists here; the Government position with importing electricity generated by nuclear power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21388/08]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I believe that the public would be better informed about the energy security and climate change challenges we face by an informed debate on what alternative fuel supplies we can turn to as we withdraw from our use of fossil fuels. I believe that a debate on nuclear power fits within such a context. It could best take place within the remit of an Oireachtas committee given that the committees can work in a public manner that is on the record and where relevant expertise and research resources can be directed to the issue.

I believe that such a debate would confirm that nuclear power is not a suitable or desirable choice for Ireland and that such a conclusion would reaffirm public commitment to the alternative renewable and energy efficiency solutions.

While the use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity in Ireland is statutorily prohibited under Section 18(6) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, this prohibition does not include the importation of electricity generated by nuclear energy.

Legal advice received by my Department states that such a prohibition would be in breach of Article 28 of the EC Treaty, which prohibits quantitative restrictions on imports and all measures having equivalent effect between Member States.

I am therefore advised that a prohibition on the importation of electricity generated with the use of nuclear energy would be highly unlikely to have a legal justification even if it were technically feasible.

I am further advised that it is not technically possible to guarantee that electricity imported over an interconnector is not generated from nuclear sources as it is not physically possible to prevent the flow of nuclear generated electricity onto the network. Nor is it possible to distinguish the flow of electricity across interconnectors by reference to the original source of supply or generation.

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