Senator Mark Dearey Addresses Local Authorities Conference in Manchester

Senator Mark Dearey has told a local authorities conference in Manchester that Ireland's non-nuclear status means we have a much greater focus on developing our renewable energy sector and that we will be leaders in renewable energies in Europe within the decade. The Senator was addressing a conference marking the 30th anniversary of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) hosted by the mayor of Manchester and attended by the mayor of Nagasaki, mayor Tomihisa Taue.

Senator Dearey explained how Ireland has become 90 percent dependent of imported oil and coal for its electricity and that this was a dangerous position for the country to put itself in. As a result Ireland has embarked on an ambitions programme to develop its wind and tidal power, Senator Dearey told the audience. This has already meant that on several days in 2010, 50 percent of our energy was coming from wind power. This will; happen more and more frequently as we bring off shore wind power onto the grid. Concluding his remarks senator asserted that, "Ireland has chosen the right option in ruling out a nuclear future. It means we can focus on what we have in abundance, natural energy, instead of being distracted by incredibly expensive imported technology, the creation of dozens of quanos to regulate it, a legacy of nuclear waste that future generations might have to deal with and the likelihood that uranium will, like oil, eventually run out".

Following his speech the mayor of Nagasaki commended Senator Dearey on his comments and introduced him to two now elderly survivors of the A Bomb attack on Nagasaki in 1945. Senator Dearey described the meeting as moving and memorable and as one that highlighted for him the dangers of a civil nuclear power programme giving nations the opportunity to develop military nuclear capability.