Does Ireland Have the Skills for Nuclear?
Does Ireland Have the Skills for Nuclear?
2nd November 2021
Ireland has strong engineering talent, world-class universities, and experience managing complex infrastructure projects. But does Ireland have—or could it develop—the specialized skills needed for a nuclear program? This webinar explored workforce requirements, training pathways, and international collaboration in nuclear human resources.
Expert Speakers
Marti Jeltsov, PhD
Co-Founder & Head of Technology and Research, Fermi Energia
Marti holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and co-founded Fermi Energia, a start-up company working to build a Small Modular Reactor in Estonia. He brings more than 10 years of experience in both academia and industry in nuclear power and power markets. Estonia, like Ireland, has no existing nuclear industry, making their approach to building skills and expertise particularly relevant for understanding what's possible starting from scratch.
Brian Molloy
Nuclear Human Resources Expert, IAEA
Brian is a Nuclear Human Resources expert at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with over 40 years of experience in the nuclear industry. He started in engineering roles before transitioning to training and human resource development. Through his work with the IAEA, Brian has supported numerous countries in developing nuclear workforce strategies, training programs, and regulatory capacity. His expertise spans the full spectrum of nuclear skills—from technical operators to safety regulators.
Discussion Topics
- Skills Inventory: What specialized skills are needed across the nuclear lifecycle
- Irish Baseline: Existing capabilities in engineering, regulation, construction, and project management
- Training Pathways: University programs, apprenticeships, and professional development routes
- International Collaboration: Learning from and partnering with established nuclear countries
- Regulatory Capacity: Building independent nuclear safety and regulatory expertise
- Timeline & Planning: How long it takes to develop a skilled nuclear workforce
- Estonia Example: How a small country with no nuclear legacy is building capacity
- SMR Opportunities: How Small Modular Reactors may reduce specialized skill requirements
Watch the Webinar
The full discussion and Q&A session, moderated by Norma O'Mahony (18for0 member), is available on YouTube.
Watch on YouTubeKey Insights
Ireland already possesses many of the foundational skills needed for a nuclear program through its engineering workforce, pharmaceutical manufacturing expertise, and track record of managing complex regulated industries. Specialized nuclear skills can be developed through targeted university programs, international partnerships, and phased project timelines that allow for training and capacity building. Countries like Estonia and the UAE demonstrate that nations can successfully build nuclear capability from scratch with proper planning, IAEA support, and strategic partnerships. For Ireland, the question isn't whether we could develop the skills, but whether we have the policy ambition to do so.