Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to any research in the field of alternative energy sources associated with Thorium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14569/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My Department is aware that thorium is an alternative to uranium as a fuel for nuclear fission. I understand that there are large scale thorium resources available worldwide but that it will be some time before nuclear power stations fuelled by thorium become commercially available.

The use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity in Ireland is prohibited by Section 18(6) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. The Government has no plans to change this position.