Nuclear power and energy needs

Sir, – In the recent CEPA report on Ireland’s future energy needs it was stated: “. . . the Government has no plans to revisit the (legislative) prohibition on, or explore the development of, nuclear powered electricity generation in Ireland and therefore it has not been considered in the review”.

Had the Government not prevented the authors from examining this issue it would have been useful to have obtained an objective analysis of the merits or otherwise of pursuing a nuclear option. Of course there are risks, but it should be noted that Finland, a country with a comparable population, already has five nuclear reactors and the building of a sixth reactor is under active consideration.

One of the solutions to meet our energy needs is the interconnector with France which will permit 700MW of electricity to move from that country. It should, however, be noted that as of 2018 over 70 per cent of the electricity generated in France was generated by nuclear power.

In seeking purity on the issue, there is the prospect of an unedifying spectacle of running headlong into a wall of hypocrisy. – Yours, etc,