Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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153. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the use of nuclear energy here; the amount of imported electricity currently generated by nuclear power; and the amount which will be generated and imported by Ireland by 2025. [10739/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The 2014 Green Paper on Energy Policy covers a broad range of energy issues, including an exploration of all possible fuel options, for securing a balanced, sustainable and secure energy mix. It is in this context that the current discussions on Ireland's future energy policy and fuel mix are taking place.

The use of nuclear fission for the generation of nuclear power is statutorily prohibited by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act, 2006 which prohibits the authorisation of development consisting of an installation for the generation of electricity by nuclear fission. The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 also makes similar provision in respect of regulatory authorisations. It is important to note that there are no plans to change the existing legislation in order to allow nuclear power in Ireland.

The statutory prohibitions on nuclear do not prevent the importation of electricity generated by nuclear energy from other countries. It is the case that nuclear generation forms part of the overall UK generation fuel mix. The Lisbon Treaty legally provides for individual Member States to determine their own energy mix. Ireland takes the view that nuclear power plants, wherever located, must comply fully with all relevant conventions and legal provisions in regard to health, safety standards, environmental impact and economic justification. Ireland imports electricity from Britain via the East West Interconnector (EWIC). Ireland can also import electricity from Northern Ireland, which is in turn linked to the UK electricity market via the Moyle Interconnector.

It is not technically feasible to distinguish the flow of electricity across interconnectors by reference to the original source of supply or generation.