Nuclear security

Nuclear incident off our coast has potential to bankrupt Ireland

 A bad nuclear incident near our shores has the potential to bankrupt Ireland, according to a research scientist at University College London (UCL).

Even a relatively minor incident that does not cause any radioactive fallout here could still cost the State €4 billion, about as much as the annual yield from corporate taxation, said Dr Paul Dorfman who is based in UCL’s Energy Institute. He also sits on an Environmental Protection Agency advisory committee looking at radiological protection.

The worst case, where Ireland experiences high levels of radioactivitycontaminating food and water, could cost in excess of €161 billion. It would wipe out our significant export capacity for agricultural products and require us to import safe foodstuffs from outside a toxic zone.