Climate crisis and nuclear energy

Sir, – The two legal barriers to developing a nuclear power programme in Ireland are the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act and the Electricity Regulation Act 1999.

In both cases, these barriers are single lines of legislation; their removal would not impact on the rest of the Acts.

Work could then begin on the multiple stages in the development of low-carbon nuclear energy through the most suitable of the small reactors becoming available, to provide the reliable baseload for the ever-increasing levels of renewable energy on our electricity grid.

Until then, it seems, the plan is to increase reliance on high-emissions natural gas plants, as this is the only presently available baseload for ever-increasing levels of unreliable renewable energy to cope with transport and heating demand. – Yours, etc,

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ANNE

BAILY,

Ballyneale,

Carrick-on-Suir,

Co Tipperary.