Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. Regardless of a number of planned projects to which the Minister has referred, Ireland's reliance on imported fossil fuels makes us extremely vulnerable at present. More than 90% of the gas we use on this island is imported. Let us not forget that 55% of all of the power generated in Ireland is now fuelled by gas. Almost all of that comes from the UK market.

At present, we have the capacity to store 11 days' usage of gas. This compares poorly with most European countries. France can store 92 days' gas needs, in Germany the figure is 84, in Italy 80 and in Denmark 58. The average of the EU 15 member states is 52 days. These countries are not reliant on two gas interconnectors, as we are. Regardless of what is being developed by Shannon LNG and in the Corrib gas field, does the Minister intend to extend the remit of the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, to include gas storage and will he set a target of an increased number of days' storage of our gas reserves?

See this speech in context