Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If my information is correct, it would appear that a matter went to the Cabinet today regarding gas energy security and that the Government has agreed to move towards the installation of a gas storage facility. This is to be welcomed, even though it took an awfully long time for a very obvious measure to be put in place. Unfortunately, I hear the recommendation is that this gas facility be constructed, owned and run by the State. This flies in the face of all reason. Most of our best projects have been as a result of public private partnerships. We are not a communist country. We reward enterprise and we can attach conditions to private enterprises to make sure they operate within proper constraints. As I have mentioned here umpteen times, New Fortress Energy, which is based in my area of north Kerry, has huge expertise in this business. The company has installed gas storage facilities all over the world. It recently installed such a facility in Holland which took 60 days from start to finish. It is anticipated by this company that if the State is to undertake a project of this magnitude in an area in which it has no competence or experience, it will probably turn into another children's hospital situation. It will go on indefinitely and will cost millions and millions of euros. I do not know whether it is doctrinaire politics, green politics or what kind of politics it is. I do not understand it. I ask the Leader to ask the Government to have a second look at this. Surely there is a way in which a company with expertise that is ready, willing and able to start tomorrow morning, to create hundreds of jobs in an area that badly needs them and to honour all stipulations and contracts from the Government, should at least be allowed to tender for this job.We are running out of time and everybody knows our energy security is in jeopardy. It is time this was looked at properly.