Kenny must seek commitment from UK on ageing nuclear plants, say Greens

Ireland should also actively lobby against British decision to install new network of reactors along western coastline

The Green Party’s Seanad environment spokesperson Mark Dearey has called on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to seek "an immediate commitment from UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne to rescind his Government’s decision to extend the working life of two aging reactors at Wylfa and Oldbury."

The renowned anti-nuclear campaigner continued: "The Wylfa reactor is 40 years in operation since January this year and is the closest nuclear power station to the Irish coast right opposite Dublin on the western tip of Anglesey. Following Fukoshima, there can be no risks taken with public health. This ancient reactor should be decommissioned immediately.

Senator Dearey said: "I believe it is also necessary that the decision to proceed with new nuclear power stations many along Britain's Irish Sea coast must be suspended and that the case for a nuclear power renaissance in Britain be re examined in the light of the Fukoshima events.

"Ireland cannot stand by and allow the development of a necklace of new stations that operate on the false premise that they can guarantee nothing will ever cause a release of novel radioactive isotopes from an accident in the reactor core. We are already living with hugely excessive risk because of the liquor tanks at Sellafield which are vulnerable to terrorist attack. It is madness to take on more risk with no gain.

"Furthermore I am calling on the Taoiseach to immediately contact his counterparts in the German, Austrian, Swedish and Hungarian Governments who, along with Ireland, in Declaration 54 of the Lisbon Treaty all signed their support for a conference to review and amend the nuclear-promoting EURATOM treaty. That conference needs to happen immediately. EURATOM although a distinct organisation, is embedded in the EU and essentially commits the EU to a strongly pro nuclear position.

"This structure was conceived of by Jean Monet, at a time when the potential for renewables and radical energy efficiency was not understood. EURATOM is an energy anachronism at the heart of the Union and must be challenged. While Angela Merkel and her CDU party may find it politically embarrassing to trigger the declaration I believe Ireland, Austria and Sweden in particular should make the case for the conference. Enda Kenny needs to reaffirm Ireland’s non nuclear status, lift the telephone and build a lobby against this next generation of nuclear threats to Ireland."