Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

The Shannon LNG project was announced in May 2006. In September 2007 a planning application was lodged with An Bord Pleanála for the terminal. Permission was granted by the board in March 2008 even though this was a complex application which involved a protracted oral hearing. However, the process has not been as efficient in respect of the foreshore licence. Shannon LNG had its first meeting with the engineering division of the foreshore licence section of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 27 August 2007. It made a formal application for the licence on 2 April 2008, more than two years ago. Last April, the Minister confirmed in the House that he had signed off on the licence which would be sent to the Office of the Chief State Solicitor for final clearance. This has not happened to date.

This project is of significant national importance in terms of energy security and of great local importance in terms of providing jobs. As regards energy security, almost 60% of Ireland's electricity is generated using natural gas as fuel. There is a high level of dependence on gas imports from the United Kingdom, with some 90% of our gas being imported from that country. Moreover, the United Kingdom itself is projected to have to import up to 79% of its own gas requirements by 2016. It makes no sense to rely for our supplies on a country whose own resources are running out. Shannon LNG can provide security and diversity of supply and storage and thus reduce our dependence on one import pipeline from Scotland.

There is also a significant local employment aspect to this project. It is expected that it will provide 350 jobs at any one time over a four-year period. There will also be 200 jobs for more than six months relating to the construction of the pipeline. When the terminal is operational it will provide more than 100 jobs, including some in the broader economy. If there is a difficulty with regard to the foreshore licence, it must be communicated to Shannon LNG. If it is a case of expertise not being available to carry out a proper examination of the foreshore licence application, surely such expertise should be assigned to the project as a matter of urgency in view of its strategic importance.

See this speech in context