Vol. 466 No. 1
23 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he can assure the public that electricity generated by nuclear power will not be used in Ireland; and if he has informed the British authorities that this is the Irish position and that an electricity interconnector will not be constructed until nuclear power ceases to be used for electricity generating purposes. [10879/96]
It is Government policy that nuclear power should not be used for the production of electricity in Ireland.
It is likely that a common position on the draft Electricity Directive will be reached at an Energy Council in June, before the end of the Italian Presidency. Under the draft Directive, Ireland will retain the right to determine the fuel used in any generating station which is established here. This empowers the Government to refuse approval for the use of nuclear fuel in any Irish power station. It remains firm Government policy that the ESB may not purchase nuclear generated electricity at home or abroad.
Under the provisions for third party access to networks in the draft Directive, large customers will be entitled, if the necessary interconnection capacity exists, to contract directly with generators abroad for electricity. However, access to nuclear generated electricity is not possible at present as Ireland is not connected to Scotland, England or Wales.
There are plans, but no final decision for an interconnector between Northern Ireland and Scotland which, at least in theory, would open the option for large Irish consumers to make contracts with nuclear generators in the UK or mainland Europe. It is Government policy not to allow nuclear generated electricity into Ireland and we will continue to seek to ensure that the Directive allows us to refuse access to our market for nuclear generated electricity.
In view of the clear Government policy and very strong Irish public opinion against nuclear power it is extremely unlikely that any large company would contract directly with nuclear power stations.
With regard to interconnection directly with the UK, studies have shown that while interconnection is technically feasible, such a project would not be economically viable. In any event, the UK Government is kept well aware of Ireland's strong opposition to nuclear power.
I welcome the Minister of State's reply in so far as I understand him to say that we will not import nuclear generated electricity. Does that mean an interconnector will not be built or, in the event of one being built, will an arrangement be made whereby electricity will be selectively taken from one generator and not from another? Is that what the Minister of State is technically arguing or will electricity from the UK not be imported? From a technical point of view, how can he guarantee that nuclear electricity will not be imported?
There is not an interconnector between here and any other country.
Except Northern Ireland.
There is an interconnector between here and Northern Ireland but there is not a connector between here and a country producing electricity from nuclear power sources. There is a plan, but no decision, for an interconnector between Northern Ireland and Scotland. In theory, the Northern Ireland authorities or any large player in Northern Ireland could import electricity directly from a nuclear power station into Northern Ireland.
That is more than theory.
Perhaps the Deputy knows more about the matter than I, but I am not aware of any contract in the matter as yet. There is no possibility of an interconnector being set up between the Irish Republic and the mainland of Britain. Studies demonstrate that would not be economically feasible because of the size of our power requirement. In theory, it is possible for a person in the Republic, given the interconnection between Northern Ireland and here and the plans for an interconnection between Northern Ireland and Scotland, to import nuclear powered electricity. There is, however, no practical possibility of that happening now because no interconnector exists. If such circumstances were to arise it would not be possible to import nuclear radioactive material; it is only electricity that would be imported. Given the weight of public opinion and Government and Opposition policy on this issue, the pressure on any large purchaser would be such that they would give up their right under the theoretical directive clause to import nuclear powered electricity.
That is a good theory.
There are three Deputies offering and I suggest that each Deputy put his question and the Minister will answer all three together.
Given the strong public opinion on this matter, will the Minister give an assurance that there will be no change of policy without giving all parties an opportunity to hear the arguments and express a view on them?
Will the Minister be very clear about Government policy in this regard? I understand it is Government policy that the ESB may not import nuclear generated electricity and it is also Government policy that private firms who wish and are able technically to import electricity that is nuclear generated may do so. There is no mechanism to prevent private firms, which make up 40 per cent of the market, from importing nuclear powered electricity.
Will the Minister go so far as to advise Deputies Sargent and Brennan that, when they go to the UK, France, Germany or any other country, they should refrain from even turning on the light so that they remain uncontaminated by nuclear generated electricity? They seem to know better than all the other people of Europe.
I assure the House that during the period of this Government there will be no change in policy on nuclear powered electricity. Government policy is very clear on this matter. The ESB will not be allowed generate or import electricity from nuclear sources.
Private companies may do so.
They cannot do so as there is no directive relating to that matter.
How will the Minister know since it is all mixed in the one system?
We are continuing to make the argument for an exclusion clause in the directive to ensure that nuclear generated electricity cannot be imported into Ireland by the private or public sectors.
The Minister cannot stop the private sector. That is nonsense.
