Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Winds of change

What a difference 25 years can make. In the late 1970s the prevailing wisdom from the political establishment and in particular Fianna Fáil was to build Ireland's first nuclear power station in Carnsore, County Wexford.

This week, Carnsore is home to a newly opened wind farm. The farm will contribute 12 megawatts to the national grid and will save 8,000 tonnes in fossil fuel imports in any one year. The operation of the plant will prevent 34,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Was the irony of this lost on Dermot Ahern, current minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, who opened the new wind farm last week?

Ahern said though that that those who had protested against nuclear power in the 1970s must feel "vindicated by their stance" and that, "as Minister with responsibility for energy, I am delighted that we continue to expand our renewable energy sector and that we turned our back on nuclear power".

How long will it be then before Ahern and his pro-incinerator colleagues realise that today's protesters opposing these bogus energy strategies are also right and will be vindicated over time?

Cullen's pocket money

Are you responding to the "waste challenge"? Well then, the Minister of Environment, Martin Cullen has pledged to reward local authorities who are "driving the environmental agenda" with extra funding.

Cullen has §55 million to give to those who "responded positively to the waste challenge". The money is from the funds raised by the plastic bag and landfill levies and will no doubt have a positive effect on recycling schemes around the state.

This money though, must be put into perspective. The Indaver incinerator recently granted planning permission in Carranstown, County Meath will cost §85 million. The toxic waste incinerator proposed for Ringaskiddy will involve spending $95 million, with §200 million the cost of the proposed incinerator in Dublin. It makes Cullen's §55 million seem a bit paltry in comparison.