Can Ireland develop nuclear power/weapons?

hoorsmelt · 25-11-2011 10:33AM #1

Just curious, with peak-oil upon us Ireland is extremely vulnerable to oil price hikes in the future. Some people believe setting up a nuclear power station somewhere unimportant like Dublin would be a good idea, as it would provide power sufficient to power the country. I think they're right. We could import nuclear technology from countries with world class nuclear industries, like Iran or North Korea (and in the mean-time establish bi-lateral trade links with these two large markets) to get us started, and when it is up and running we could set up our own indigenous missile industry to complement it and to sell for hard cash. Two birds with the one stone, we could significantly dent our deficit and set up sustainable industries which would provide much needed jobs. Discuss.

mdoyler2 · 25-11-2011 10:36AM

would you trust our government with nuclear energy?

Deus Ex Machina · 25-11-2011 10:37AM

We have big mates who'll step in if we get into anything, we don't need to be able to swing any big digs.

El Weirdo · 25-11-2011 10:38AM

Do you really think we could be trusted with nuclear power?

It'd be done like everything else in this country - half-arsed and incompetently.

BOOM!!!!

W.Shakes-Beer · 25-11-2011 10:38AM

I personally think Nuclear Power is great, as long as the waste is suitably disposed off it has little to no effect on the atmosphere (gives off steam).

There is a big perceived risk around it that "oh a nuclear power station beside me is making me grow another eye in my head" or there'll be a meltdown but the actual risk as opposed to the perceived risk is actually very low. Modern Nuclear Power Stations are very very safe and have security measures to prevent meltdown.

Chernobyl only happened due to an aging design and bad safety procedure.

Circus_O · 25-11-2011 10:39AM

It was attempted before in the 1970's. Ignoring the inherent risks of nuclear power and nuclear proliferation when they planned to build four nuclear power plants there a big backlash and anti-nuclear groups sprang up in a load of places. Ireland just apparently doesn't want nuclear power.

Paparazzo · 25-11-2011 10:39AM

OP, our economy is in the worst shape in history, do you really think it's a good time to invest in a nuclear weapons program?

Tabnabs · 25-11-2011 10:40AM

“Nucular, it's pronounced Nucular…”

tin79 · 25-11-2011 10:41AM

W.Shakes-Beer wrote: »

I personally think Nuclear Power is great, as long as the waste is suitably disposed off it has little to no effect on the atmosphere (gives off steam).

There is a big perceived risk around it that "oh a nuclear power station beside me is making me grow another eye in my head" or there'll be a meltdown but the actual risk as opposed to the perceived risk is actually very low. Modern Nuclear Power Stations are very very safe and have security measures to prevent meltdown.

Chernobyl only happened due to an aging design and bad safety procedure.

What about Fukishima though? The problem is that if/when they go wrong they go really wrong.

fungun · 25-11-2011 10:43AM

Nuclear power is already developed, so we kinda missed the boat on that one

Oranage2 · 25-11-2011 10:43AM

We should really be delvoping nuclear power - No Co2, cheaper and more efficient

Immaculate Pasta · 25-11-2011 10:44AM

We should definitely develop nuclear weapons. I've got my eyes of the Isle of Man to blow up first. Look at it there, just positioned so near us, plotting...

foxyboxer · 25-11-2011 10:44AM

tin79 wrote: »

What about Fukishima though? The problem is that if/when they go wrong they go really wrong.

Ireland: Historically prone to tsunami's and devastating earthquakes.

W.Shakes-Beer · 25-11-2011 10:45AM

tin79 wrote: »

What about Fukishima though? The problem is that if/when they go wrong they go really wrong.

Well again, that was just very unfortunate circumstances and in fairness, the matter was handled very well to prevent a major disaster. Fukushima was a relatively modern plant so in light of the fact that it was rocked by an earthquake and hit with the sea it stood pretty well.

It's just that the risk is perceived to be higher than it actually is. You'd probably be more likely to win the lottery 10 times than to be directly affected by nuclear power.

Sonics2k · 25-11-2011 10:45AM

tin79 wrote: »

What about Fukishima though? The problem is that if/when they go wrong they go really wrong.

To be fair it took one hell of a Typhoon to actually do any damage to it.

And whilst they've had some issues, not explosions yet.

hoorsmelt · 25-11-2011 10:46AM

Paparazzo wrote: »

OP, our economy is in the worst shape in history, do you really think it's a good time to invest in a nuclear weapons program?

We could sell the technology to other countries around the world that lack nuclear missile technologies. We'd probably get big bucks for them as well.

mawk · 25-11-2011 10:47AM

I'm a big proponent of nuclear energy. I have two engineering degrees and I'm currently studying energy policy.
nuclear is awesome, just not for ireland.
we don't have the scale of requirements to prompt building a facility.

but wind and solar are only good options for politicians, so..

let england build the nuclear infrastructure and buy power off them.

and nuclear power plants are perfectly safe when running. they can't fail on their own any more. but that doesn't stop some asshole from flying a plane into one.

smurf311 · 25-11-2011 10:49AM

All i'll say is Homer Simpson

clare ny · 25-11-2011 10:50AM

think it would be great for the country .. but seriously , ok i will stay away from the shell to sea thats a mine field what about the ennis by-pass being moved because of a fairy tree ,the chances of a nuclear power station being built in ireland are slim to none

Caoimhín · 25-11-2011 10:51AM

mawk wrote: »

they can't fail on their own any more. but that doesn't stop some asshole from flying a plane into one.

Incompetent public servants have already laid waste to the economy, imagine if they were put in charge of a nuclear power plant.

pragmatic1 · 25-11-2011 10:52AM

Nuclear power will become more and more widespread. Its the only really viable option to produce enough power for a growing population.

baddebt · 25-11-2011 10:54AM

I'd have more trust in giving Al-Quaida than the fuchin incompetent Irish government

shannon_tek · 25-11-2011 10:54AM

Twould be Chernobyl all over again

chem · 25-11-2011 10:55AM

Its taught ,that Ireland has some of the largest, deposites of Uranium ore in the world. But the government wont allow it to be mined.

http://www.examiner.ie/story/Ireland/eysneyojql/rss2/

grumpymunster · 25-11-2011 11:00AM

clare ny wrote: »

think it would be great for the country .. but seriously , ok i will stay away from the shell to sea thats a mine field what about the ennis by-pass being moved because of a fairy tree ,the chances of a nuclear power station being built in ireland are slim to none

Yes and sadly slim just left town. Would be good to have as an interim whilst getting up to speed with wind and wave. But too many ill informed tree huggers in this country for it to happen.

doolox · 25-11-2011 11:02AM

We know what the present setup with large scale power stations is like, too prone to Union inspired pay hikes and cost demands and not open to competition. We couldnt afford to have more than one nuclear power generating company for our population and they would be in a very powerful position to demand huge wages on "safety" grounds. The ultimate blackmail weapon given our "clean" record with food and tourism etc.

A better way is distributed small scale generation using wind, solar wave etc supplied by competing companies who the consuming public can then squeeze for the best price by pitting them against each other.

CrazyRabbit · 25-11-2011 11:02AM

Nuclear power plants are usually heavily subsidised by governments. Do you really want to give the Irish government a reason to create yet another tax, or an excuse to raise current taxes again?

Nephinbeg · 25-11-2011 11:02AM

Nuclear power, if done correctly, would be a fantastic way to cut our carbon emissions and provide energy as other power sources inevitably become dearer.

The major problem is the MASSIVE capital investment that is needed to set a plant up. It would eventually pay for itself but if the state can't afford to pay the Gardaí the bill for the State visits, how can a few billion be found for such a politically-sensitive proposal?

If in ten years the country was in better economic health, and uranium sources could be guaranteed, it might be a more realistic proposition.

W.Shakes-Beer · 25-11-2011 11:03AM

shannon_tek wrote: »

Twould be Chernobyl all over again

Joe? Is that you again?

two wheels good · 25-11-2011 11:13AM

W.Shakes-Beer wrote: »

I personally think Nuclear Power is great, as long as the waste is suitably disposed off it has little to no effect on the atmosphere (gives off steam).

There is a big perceived risk around it that "oh a nuclear power station beside me is making me grow another eye in my head" or there'll be a meltdown but the actual risk as opposed to the perceived risk is actually very low. Modern Nuclear Power Stations are very very safe and have security measures to prevent meltdown.

Chernobyl only happened due to an aging design and bad safety procedure.

I think you're being just a bit complacent

Nuclear waste gives off harmful radiation - not steam.
The UK still hasn't devised a waste disposal plan - after almost 60 years of nuclear power. It also has a record of potentially dangerous incidents.

Whatever the cause of the incidents the effects have been disastrous - Chernobyl, Fukishima.

As for the costs. Despite privatisation, the UK public have been lumbered with the decommissioning costs - approx £80b was the last figure I read. The building costs went over-budget by enormous amounts.

Developing an indigineous green energy industry seems better for jobs, technology growth and environment instead of importing foreign nuclear expertise.

fungun · 25-11-2011 11:14AM

Sonics2k wrote: »

To be fair it took one hell of a Typhoon to actually do any damage to it.

And whilst they've had some issues, not explosions yet.

Im sure the Fukushima locals will be delighted to hear that

Can Ireland develop nuclear power/weapons?

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