Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
137 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in view of the Government’s anti-nuclear policy, the proposed electricity connectors from Britain will be so contracted that no electricity from nuclear power stations, including Sellafield, will be purchased or imported for use in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5862/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the EU Electricity Directive 2003/54/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 96/92/EC, to avoid imbalance in the opening of electricity markets, the supply of electricity to customers deemed eligible in other member states shall not be prohibited.
Also, it is not possible to prohibit electricity generated from nuclear sources being imported over the proposed East-West interconnectors, since it is not physically possible to prevent the flow of nuclear generated electricity on to the network. This is the case with the existing interconnection between Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through the Moyle interconnector.
The Deputy may wish to note that with the implementation of the Electricity Directive, all electricity suppliers will be required to specify in or with the electricity bills and in promotional material made available to final customers, the contribution of each energy source to the overall fuel mix of the supplier over the preceding year. This Directive is scheduled to be transposed into Irish law by 1 July 2004, whereas the earliest possible date for commencement of construction work on an East-West interconnector is end 2006.
I am confident, given the known popular opposition to nuclear energy in Ireland, that suppliers would not knowingly contract for electricity imports clearly traceable to nuclear stations or that Irish consumers would knowingly buy any. There is simply no business case for selling nuclear energy in Ireland.
