Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The use of fossil fuels in Ireland is being reduced. We are now moving towards a target of having 80% of our electricity generated through renewable sources by 2030. That necessarily means a reduction in our fossil fuel use. Although we have more gas plants being built - I am sure the Deputy understands this point - an extra 2 GW of gas plant capacity does not mean we are burning gas in the plants all the time. It means we have the capacity in an emergency to bring up enough gas to continue to supply electricity to those who need it around the country. There will be a capacity option shortly to allow for the 2 GW. That is for people to have the ability to receive electricity from gas over the next ten years; it is not to allow it to be burned all the time. It is for use when it is absolutely needed. I agree that gas is not a transition fuel. This is not a policy of the Government but it is a policy of the Government that liquefied natural gas, LNG, stations are not to be built pending the review of energy security.

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