asked the Minister for Transport and power if he proposes to establish a Nuclear Energy Board; and, if so, if he will indicate its proposed functions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nuclear Energy Board.
8.
I propose to establish shortly a Nuclear Energy Board which will have the general and particular functions set out in sections 4 and 5 of the Nuclear Energy Act, 1973.
Arising out of the reply given by the Minister and the fact that he was reported some weeks ago as having taken the decision in principle, would he not agree that it would be one of the functions of the board to advise him whether it would be feasible for us to go nuclear having regard to the possibility of other commercially exploitable finds of oil or natural gas off our coast? Does the Minister not consider he may have taken a decision in advance of the best advice that might be available to him from that and other sources as well as from the ESB?
I do not think so. I said on the occasion the Deputy has referred to that it was my personal opinion but that I would establish the Nuclear Energy Board, that their advice would be available to me and that, in the light of that advice, a decision would be made.
The Minister will appreciate that when he expresses a personal opinion it is accepted by the public and the media as a considered opinion—
Are we having a statement from the Deputy instead of a supplementary question?
If the Nuclear Energy Board, the ESB and the Minister's advisers, after careful consideration, recommend to the Minister that it would not be desirable for us to go nuclear but rather to rely on other sources of native energy, would the Minister consider it open to him to accept that decision and not to go nuclear?
I think if my own Department, the ESB and the Nuclear Energy Board advised me not to erect a nuclear power station I would be extremely foolish to go ahead and do it.