Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I do not see us having LNG terminals. I will have to check the programme for Government, but I think it was specific in referring to imported fracked gas. It is very difficult when one gets into the subject given some of the technical aspects involved in terms of how one can be certain about the source of certain gas. Similar to the electricity grid network, when one is importing electricity one does not know whether it is coming from a nuclear or other source and in the existing gas network, where we are getting gas from the UK, some gas could come from an LNG terminal. The Department is carrying out a review of energy supply security. It is examining the entire issue of energy security. Our own gas supply is likely to come to an end in the early part of the next decade. As to the possibility of establishing a link, whereby we could have an emergency connection to bring in gas in the event of a future crisis, I would not rule that out. To my mind, we will not have functioning LNG terminals operating here on a conventional basis. I look forward to what will be outlined in the energy security supply policy statement. If it says we must have some hook-up in the event of a wider crisis, that is something we will consider. However, I do not envisage that we will build LNG terminals to operate on a conventional basis, be it using imported fracked gas or other gas. That may be a better policy approach, as it would be very difficult to differentiate fracked gas from other gas.