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

It is interesting to note that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Attorney General are on the same page when it comes to liquid natural gas, LNG, and fracked gas. The Minister said, "I remain as determined as ever to halt the damage caused by fracking." While saying he opposes LNG and fracked gas, he also says that he cannot do anything about it. The Minister has said that he cannot ban fracked gas because it is an EU issue, and he cannot ban LNG because it is subject to an energy security review. I suggest to the Minister that he absolutely can do something about it. I ask the Minister to commit now to changing the Planning and Development Act to stop, for example, New Fortress Energy, which has already been in discussions with the planning authorities, from proceeding with its plans to build an LNG terminal at Shannon. A simple amendment to the Planning and Development Act would stop it. It does not have to rely on what the EU says, or what the energy security review says. Otherwise, what is the point of having a Green Party Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, if he does not do that?

See this speech in context