FROM THE ARCHIVES:The first legislative step towards providing nuclear energy in Ireland was taken almost 40 years ago with the Nuclear Energy Bill which passed all stages in the Dáil, apparently without a dissenting voice and in a single day. Plans to build a nuclear power station at Carnsore Point in Co Wexford were eventually abandoned in the late 1970s after numerous protests. The Bill was introduced by the then minister for transport and power, Brian Lenihan, father of the current Minister for Finance.-
JOE JOYCE
MR LENIHAN said the demand for electricity in this country had been growing for some years at the rate of 10% to 11% a year, so that it was necessary to double generating capacity every seven or eight years, bringing the probable capacity at the end of this decade to about 3,000 megawatts. The E.S.B. would commission the first 120 megawatts unit this year and the first 250 megawatt unit in 1975.
The most economical nuclear generating stations being planned at present were in the range of 1,000 to 1,200 megawatts and upwards, and there could be no question of commissioning any individual unit of this size in Ireland for many years to come.
He was aware however, that some smaller countries were now commissioning nuclear plants in the 350-500 megawatt region; they claimed that these smaller plants were both economic and competitive. The time had now come for us in Ireland to plan the commissioning of a medium-size nuclear generating station which would not be unduly large in relation to total generating capacity and would be sufficiently efficient to compete with oil-fired plants.
Mr Lenihan said that no decision had been taken to build a nuclear station. If a decision was taken to build a station, its siting would be a matter to be determined primarily by technical criteria; it should also have suitable foundation and geological characteristics, and should be located where the station would cause minimum disturbance.
When the suitability of the various sites had been assessed, a decision on the site to be chosen would be reached on the express advice of the E.S.B. and the new N.E.B. Mr. Tom O’Donnell (F.G.), said he was surprised by the whole tone of the Minister’s speech. Previous statements pointed to the establishment of a power plant by 1978. The Minister was now admitting to financial difficulties, and was saying that no decision had yet been taken.
With the introduction of the Bill, Dáil Éireann was now entering the nuclear age, but he was sceptical, after hearing the Minister’s speech if we were going to arrive at the stage of having our own nuclear station.
He said we had no option but to tackle the production of this new source of power.
The hydro-electric stations were working to full capacity; the peat-operated stations would have to be phased out in 25 or 30 years because of shortage of fuel and 50% of our electricity was being produced by oil burning stations. It was highly dangerous to have 50% of electric power dependent on oil.
He did not see why a 1,000 megawatt nuclear power station jointly financed by the Governments – north and south – should not be considered.
It was the feeling of many that perhaps a tremendous opportunity was being lost for practical cross-Border co-operation.
Dr. John O’Donovan (Labour, Dublin South Central) said he thought the Minister’s brief on the Bill was one of the best he had heard in the House.
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