A call for a joint European Union approach on nuclear safety was made in Dublin yesterday by the Austrian Foreign Minister, Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
"We would like to have a high level of standards within the European Union on nuclear power plants," she told The Irish Times.
After all, the EU laid down standards in other respects: "Why could we not really go into these safety standards for such important and maybe dangerous establishments? Therefore we have taken this initiative at the European Council in Laeken (last December) and at least now there is the possibility that a report will be made in the EU on the different nuclear power plants."
Asked if she wished to see all such plants closed down, she said: "In the end, as long-term strategy, this certainly would be important but we also know that this can only be a long-term strategy."
She believed this was an issue of common interest to both countries: "Ireland and Austria have a real issue."
Dr Ferrero-Waldner met the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, during her visit. Irish fears about the Sellafield nuclear complex are paralleled by Austria's concerns about the Temelin plant in the Czech Republic. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the two ministers had agreed to "work closely" on nuclear issues.
Dr Ferrero-Waldner had been critical of a recent visit to Iraq by Mr Joerg Haider, the controversial Austrian politician. But how long more could she and her People's Party colleagues continue in a coalition government with his Freedom Party? "The members of the government clearly also said that this was counter-productive. Like me, they had no idea of Mr Haider's trip."
On the Nice Treaty, she said she did not wish to interfere in Irish affairs. "In the end it was a compromise and a compromise was important for giving a good basis for enlargement."