The Sellafield nuclear plant, which sits on the coast of Cumbria on the far side of the Irish Sea, but in reality not very far from Ireland in nuclear terms, has long been a worry to successive Irish governments.
The worry level now looks poised for elevation. Irish environment minister Phil Hogan has asked the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to examine the impact of British government plans for eight new nuclear power plants.
The new plants could be up and humming by 2025.
The announcement has prompted concerns both in Ireland and Britain spurred, not surprisingly, by the ongoing nuclear disaster in Japan.
Minister Hogan said he was "disappointed" by the British government's decision to proceed with a nuclear plant expansion.
