This article is from page 16 of the 2006-04-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
CLARE ENGINEERS are being invited to take part in a national engineering conference that will debate some of the most contentious issues in energy, health and transport policy. A number of world experts including Luis Echávarri, Director General of the OECD’s Nuclear Energy Agency, Dr. Alesandro Clerici of the World Energy Council, and Dr. Morgan Bazilian, of Sustainable Energy Ireland, will debate whether Ireland needs to embrace nuclear power at the Engineers Ireland Conference 2006.
The conference will take place in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on April 26 and 27 – the date of the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Clare Green councillor Brian Meaney says there is no need for Ireland to consider having a nuclear power plant. The councillor agreed that meeting future energy requirements “will be a challenge” but added that progress in technology and efficiency is the way forward.
“We need to embrace efficient technology and decrease our need to depend on energy production,” said Cllr Meaney.
The councillor warned about that the “dangerous” by-products of nuclear power creation. “It has a contamination potential that we can’t even begin to perceive,” he said.
“It’s just not an option for an island the size of Ireland. The nuclear industry would have us believe it is very safe technology but the consequences of an accident are just appalling.”
The opening address will be given by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the conference will also explore the issues of traffic congestion, waste management, communication technology and project management.
The future direction of Ireland’s healthcare care industry will also be on the agenda, with the launch of a major report entitled A Picture of Health 2030.
According to a spokesman for the conference organisers, by 2030 we will all be living longer and will require a healthcare system that promotes wellness. “This report will outline Ireland’s potential to build a world-class healthcare system for the country and also a world-class healthcare sector for the economy.”