Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I thank all our guests, particularly Professor Howarth for joining us from New York. We are using up all his time, which is precious but very useful. I direct my first question to Dr. Deane from MaREI. He claims that we do not know how much fracked gas we import, particularly from the UK. However, on 1 October it was reported that fracking has now ended in the UK as the company that engaged in it ceased all activity after triggering a 2.9 magnitude earthquake near Blackpool. We are, therefore, not currently importing fracked gas, unless it is lying in storage somewhere. It will hopefully no longer come into Ireland in the future, which is good news.

There have been major campaigns across Britain to prevent shale gas being used, much like those in County Leitrim and the Shannon Estuary in Clare and Kerry. If we were to import fracked gas from the US, despite the potential contradictions that may exist regarding the importation of nuclear power from France, all we would be doing is compounding one wrong with another. We as a nation now have it within our power to stop this happening. There is no need for it. Does Dr. Deane agree?

I am interested in how his organisation has examined the carbon budget the Paris Agreement has imposed on us. Has MaREI measured how that budget would be impacted if we were to import this liquefied natural fracked gas from North America? Has MaREI calculated how much fracking itself would damage our emissions?

I ask Dr. Deane to also comment on the scientific facts Professors McMullin, Anderson, and Howarth have given us about gas not being a safe or acceptable transition fuel. This is something we have not looked at. Leaving fracking aside, gas as a transitional fuel has not been properly examined by this committee and we need to drill down into that - pardon the pun. Dr. Deane also noted in his presentation that if we were to energetically, enthusiastically and correctly move to renewable fuels, approximately 28% of our electricity needs could be met by implementing the waste reduction referred to by the SEAI. If we were to combine that with a massive investment in offshore wind energy, solar panels, and bog rehydration, in ten or 15 years, both our reliance on gas and the debate about energy security would look completely different. If we were to do what we say we are going to do, the question of gas a transitional fuel to maintain energy security would have a completely different complexion.