Congress calls for nuclear debate

Trade unions representing hundreds of thousands of Irish workers today called for the adoption of nuclear power.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) insisted the controversial technology was a serious option for future energy needs as the world responds to climate change and population growth.

Ictu general secretary David Begg said dramatic changes were needed in either the way we live our lives or how we generate power.

"Over the next 20 years our population is forecast to grow to 5.5 million. That has huge implications for energy supply," he said.

"In that context we should not foreclose, or rule out one serious possible option, namely, nuclear power, especially given our high dependency on fossil fuels."

Congress - which represents 56 unions and 770,000 workers throughout the island - has drawn up a briefing paper on sustainable energy.

At its launch in Dublin Mr Begg said a grown-up national debate was needed on the development of nuclear power in Ireland. "We cannot sleepwalk into the future," he said.

"Either we discover wholly new sources of energy, dramatically change our lifestyles and how we manage the economy, or we consider nuclear," he said.

Mr Begg also claimed breaking up ESB would very likely make energy more expensive for consumers, he said.