Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Dáil has laid the groundwork for Ireland to become a climate leader. We passed a law to ban onshore fracking, and Ireland's sovereign wealth fund has divested itself of fossil fuel investments. The Joint Committee on Climate Action produced an impressive blueprint for action to cut emissions. In May 2019, we ensured that the Dáil declared a climate and biodiversity emergency. We supported the climate emergency measures Bill and voted in favour of progressing it in March this year. I commend the many advocacy groups that played such a significant part in creating the context and raising the ante to highlight these issues and insisting on progressing to this point. I include every child who marched just a few weeks ago.

I am concerned about plans to build import terminals to bring fracked gas from the United States. Ireland banned onshore fracking because of its significant impact on public health and the damage to water sources. Listening to witnesses from other countries, we learned of the environmental damage done to their areas. Just two years on, it appears the Government is going to improve the Shannon LNG terminal for the project of common interest list, and this is before the joint committee, on 9 October, has any chance to make its case. I am glad the Business Committee has agreed to allow the debate tomorrow and give members an opportunity to express their concerns. The project is contrary to views of the European Union's agency regulators, who have recommended that the cost of the import terminals in Ireland far outweighs the benefits that could accrue.

Less than two weeks ago, many members of the Government and members from every party stood with young people in demanding urgent action on climate change. This is not just hypocritical on the part of the Government but it is also a direct challenge to the norms of democratic scrutiny. The Government's credibility on climate change has been badly damaged. There will be statements tomorrow. The Government needs to clarify whether it is planning to confirm plans with the European Commission on Friday to build gas import terminals in Ireland as a project of common interest. It would allow the importation of fracked gas from the United States. As said tonight regarding the Bill passed here two years ago to ban fracking in Ireland, there is a question over whether it is legal to allow fracked gas to be stored in this country. That is definitely worrying and it needs to be fully investigated.

I accept it is not part of the Minister's brief but the lands of the many thousands of farmers that have been designated as special areas of conservation have been left virtually worthless. They should be recognised in the climate change strategy in that they have the best grounds in the country for sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. These people have been left to the side.

Their land has been left virtually worthless. They are getting little or no support. They should be taken into consideration in this context.

See this speech in context