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

We have a serious difference emerging between the Green Party and Fine Gael at least, as we are not sure of the Taoiseach's position, on the question of liquefied natural gas, LNG. The Minster for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, intervened with An Bord Pleanála and told it that under no circumstances should the Shannon LNG project be given planning permission because it would be in opposition to the programme for Government and the commitment not to import LNG. The Minister believes the project would not make sense because it would conflict with the programme for Government. The Tánaiste said last week, as quoted in the newspapers at the weekend, that the Government would not prevent the Shannon LNG project from going ahead if it received planning permission. I need to know what the Taoiseach's position is. We also need to know what conflict is emerging over these defining issues for the time we are living in and if the Government is going to lock us into a fossil fuel future by allowing Shannon LNG to go ahead.

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