Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am giving him a formal response. The formal response is no, I am not accepting these amendments. The reason I am not accepting these amendments is that it would be unwise to legislate for something at national level weeks before it was being agreed at European level. Legislating on the meaning of biomethane, hydrogen and decarbonisation strategies for gas companies, when that is being agreed at European level, would not make sense. I want to be very clear on that. It does make sense to come back when we have had that ruling at the end of the December and discuss it on Report Stage. If the Deputy wants to ask more questions about these amendments he is welcome to.

I will move to Deputy Murphy, who asked if I am open to an amendment to ban the use of gas from LNG in Gas Networks Ireland. I am happy for Deputy Murphy to table an amendment like that if he wishes on Report Stage. Bear in mind that up to 80% of our gas supply comes from the UK. The gas we get from the UK has been sourced either from the North Sea, Norway, Qatar or other sources that are delivered by LNG. How that would be implemented in practice and how we would ban the use of gas imported through LNG terminals in the UK, I do not know. If the Deputy would like to table an amendment that explains how that can be done, I would be interested to see it.