Sir, – While ambitious and “legally binding” emissions targets claim to be helping achieve a “climate-resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy”, there is no sign of such a reduction in emissions. We never reach our targets: Ireland has one of the highest carbon emission rates in the EU.
The Cap 19 Energy Policy is based on increasing levels of renewable energy, mainly wind, which would improve our energy security – when blowing – but would be dependent on increasing proportions of high-carbon natural gas support.
The two legal barriers to developing a nuclear power programme in Ireland are single lines of legislation whose removal would not impact on the rest of the acts. This would not commit us to using nuclear energy: just make it a legal possibility.
It would give Ireland time to begin work for a possible proportion of nuclear on the grid by the mid-2030s. – Yours, etc,
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ANNE BAILY,
Carrick-on-Suir,
Co Tipperary.