Kirk calls on Ireland to challenge decision to grant State Aid to new British power plant

Seamus Kirk TD

Local Fianna Fáil TD Seamus Kirk has called for Ireland to challenge the decision by the European Commission to formally grant State Aid approval to Britain to build a new nuclear power plant in Somerset beside the Irish Sea.

Deputy Kirk said: “Ireland is already at unacceptable risk from the Sellafield power plant and today’s decision by the European Commission is very worrying.

“The European Commission has cleared the way for the British government to give 35 years of financial aid to the nuclear power station planned for Hinckley, only 240km from Ireland.

“Fianna Fáil believes this is a major distortion of competition rules and will result in huge State financial support going to the nuclear industry. Ireland can move to challenge this decision by bringing a case to the European Court of First Instance challenging the decision of the European Commission to permit such State Aid. Since planning permission has already been granted for this nuclear power station, a challenge to the European Court on the grounds of State Aid is the only viable means of trying to block this nuclear plant that will threaten Ireland’s future.

“We need to hear a very clear response from the Government on this issue. Did the Taoiseach make any representations with British Prime Minister David Cameron prior to this ruling and what approach will the Government take now to protect Ireland’s interests?”

Staff told not to report to work at Sellafield due to “elevated levels of radioactivity”

The Sellafield plant in the UK

Staff at the nuclear power plant site at Sellafield in the UK – just across the Irish Sea from Dundalk – have been asked not to report to work today because of elevated radiation levels.

The operator of the plant said it was operating at “reduced manning levels” with all non-essential workers asked to stay at home.

The firm described it as a “conservative and prudent decision”.

“This follows the detection of elevated levels of radioactivity at one of the on-site radiation monitors at the north end of the site,” it said in a statement.

“Levels of radioactivity detected are above naturally occurring radiation but well below that which would call for any actions to be taken by the workforce on or off the site.”