TD says Taoiseach 'very supportive' of nuclear energy bill

Vivienne Clarke

Fianna Fáil TD James O'Connor has spoken of how supportive the Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been about his Electricity Regulation (Removal of Nuclear Fission Prohibitions) Bill 2026 which is to be debated in the Dáil.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Today with David McCullagh show, O’Connor (28), who is the youngest TD in the Dáil, said: “I spoke with the Taoiseach last night actually about the bill and he's been very supportive. I have to acknowledge that he's been very proactive and open to looking at this particular policy along with Minister James Lawless, Minister O'Callaghan and a number of other Cabinet colleagues that have contacted me to discuss the merits of this policy.

“I know Fianna Fáil, we're in our centenary year and I'm really proud to be part of a party that allows dialogue, discussion, where we can bring innovative policies forward.”

When asked about concerns he had raised last month about how the fuel protests were handled, O’Connor said the frustration expressed by he and two colleagues Albert Dolan and Ryan O’Meara, had been born out of a desire “to be listened to more".

“I know Whitegate is in my area, in my constituency of Cork East and it was a hugely stressful time for everyone involved and I think that government has to show that it's more responsive to international crises that are happening. And that's why I'm bringing forward a policy like this, that can help actually bring costs down for the economy as a whole and for society.

“We need to realise that our population has expanded greatly, that we are one of the most successful economies in the world, but with that there are needs and tackling high energy costs is one of them.”

Leaving Fianna Fáil had never been on the cards for the three of them, he said. “As a group, myself and my colleagues Deputy Albert Dolan and Deputy Ryan O'Meara, the three of us are very, very interested in Fianna Fáil having a successful future.

“We’re looking forward to the next centenary celebration or the next century of successful politics for Fianna Fáil and actually implementing change and that's something that we are interested in, myself and my two colleagues.”