asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he consulted officially the Nuclear Energy Board two months prior to his recent announcement about nuclear energy in a Sunday newspaper.
Written Answers. - Nuclear Energy.
448.
The answer is "No", nor am I obliged to do so.
Under section 5 (1) (b) of the Nuclear Energy Act, 1971, the Nuclear Energy Board have the particular function of advising the Minister on proposals for the construction of nuclear power stations and on all aspects of the installation, operation and supervision of such stations. I would expect the board to have regard to their function under this section should the Government decide to authorise the ESB to re-commence the planning of a nuclear station.
I should add that my Department are in regular and frequent contact with the Nuclear Energy Board in regard to all nuclear energy matters including the Carnsore project.