The Workers’ Party welcomes the news that the Dáil is set to debate reversing the ban on nuclear energy. It is a safe, reliable, cheap, and efficient way to provide energy for working people and industry, and offers an alternative to sky-high energy costs and the climate crisis.

The ongoing crisis makes it clear that the current approach; of reducing energy demand in the name of decarbonisation by making it unaffordable, is not a runner for working people. If the government does not consider technologies like nuclear energy that could provide a clean and reliable energy supply, working people will continue to be subjected to energy austerity while companies continue to profit. It is our view that in order to be positively effective from the standpoint of working people, this process must be state-led.

Nuclear energy is the safest large-scale energy technology, and the evidence shows that it is responsible for fewer deaths than even wind power. As it is significantly more predictable and reliable than any other low-carbon technology available, nuclear energy can be scaled up to meet increasing electricity demand, meaning that we can grow our energy supply while simultaneously eliminating carbon emissions and allowing for the development of an industrial economy. Furthermore, nuclear energy has the smallest ecological footprint of any energy source, helping to mitigate environmental harm and tackle the growing biodiversity crisis.

🔗 Our nuclear energy policy paper, launched back in 2023 and entitled “Let’s Get Real: A Plan For Nuclear Power In Ireland”, can be read by clicking here.