Dáil debates

Tuesday, 18 September 2018

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Energy Infrastructure

5:20 pm

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The planning permission for an LNG terminal at Ballylongford has been extended by An Bord Pleanála for five years. It was due to expire in 2018. Compared with when that planning permission was first given, we now know more about the dangers of LNG, the way that fracking is conducted in North America and the damage the latter does to the environment and the planet. As such, it is extraordinary that An Bord Pleanála would decide to extend the licence by five years without even undertaking an environmental impact assessment. I congratulate the Friends of the Irish Environment on successfully challenging this decision in the High Court and having an injunction placed on it.

Everything the Minister has said indicates not only that there is a problem with our climate change strategy, but that we actually lack such a strategy. We are nowhere near reaching our commitment to reduce our CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. We are at 10%. We know for sure that we will not be able to do it.

Will the Minister please repeat what he said about energy security? The planet does not recognise borders when it comes to climate change and toxic pollution, but the Minister seems to believe that it is okay for us to import fracked gas when we have banned it in Ireland. That is a contradiction.

Comments

John McElligott (Safety Before LNG)
Posted on 23 Sep 2018 8:31 pm (Report this comment)

Well spoken Bríd Smith.

Of Course, it must be pointed out that New Fortress Energy will be exporting fracked gas from the US and the Fracking ban also made illegal the importation of fracked gas into Ireland and its internal waters. I wonder is the Dáil and Seanad allowed to encourage an illegal act????

c.f. http://www.safetybeforelng.ie/pressreleases/pressrelease2018...

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