Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 13, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “(c) in section 10A— (i) in subsection (4), by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (h):

“(i) the terms and conditions upon which applications for new connections or expansion of the gas network must be assessed to consider the expected emissions profile of the new connection, and of its contribution to the decarbonisation of Ireland’s economy;

(j) the terms and conditions upon which an application may be refused if it is considered not to be in the public interest to provide additional capacity to meet the requirements sought.”,

and

(ii) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (7A):

“(7B) The Board shall be entitled to refuse connection on the grounds of the expected emissions profile, long term carbon emissions or inconsistency with the carbon budget programme or sectoral emissions ceilings as per sections 6A and 6C of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended).”,

and

(d) in section 10B, in subsection (3), by the insertion of the following paragraphs after paragraph (f):

“(g) the terms and conditions upon which new connections or expansion of the gas network may be refused on the grounds of the expected emissions profile, long term carbon emissions or inconsistency with the carbon budget programme or sectoral emissions ceilings as per sections 6A and 6C of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 (as amended),

(h) the terms and conditions on large energy users to facilitate accurate hourly emissions reporting, grid carbon intensity transparency and optimisation of computing loads to maximise use of renewables and minimise carbon emissions, and

(i) on undertakings on organisations operating in the gas sector in the general economic interest, public service obligations which may relate to security, including security of supply, regularity, quality and price of supplies, and environmental protection, including energy efficiency, energy from renewable sources and climate protection.”.”.