David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, for being here to respond on it.

Last Friday, I attended a seminar in Cobh organised by Cobh and Harbour Chamber. There were some serious people there representing the energy sector. The focus was on renewables and the great potential that exists in Cork Harbour in particular for renewables such as offshore wind and so forth. Several of those present expressed concern, however, in respect of the State energy security framework into the future, and next winter in particular. Ireland's natural gas supply is dependent on imports from a single source in the UK, namely, Moffat, in Scotland, while the Corrib gas field, which is depleting, supplies approximately one quarter of the State's annual needs. We now have a serious situation in Europe, with a challenge to gas supplies. The national energy security framework, published in April 2022, states:

[I]t should be noted that the UK’s indigenous production is decreasing, resulting in increased imports of liquified natural gas. In 2020, Russia supplied over 40% of the EU’s natural gas. Reduced supplies of gas from Russia could have knock on effects for Ireland.

If there are pressures on the UK, there could be a domino effect. We are at the end of the pipeline. What are the contingency plans for next winter if the gas supply reduces? If that happens, electricity generation, heating and power supply generally will be hit. What are the contingencies in that regard?

I have tabled parliamentary questions in respect of floating storage regasification units. Other countries are using them. They are importing liquefied natural gas, LNG. The response to the parliamentary questions I tabled seems to mix up fracked gas with LNG. Is analysis being carried out at the moment in respect of floating storage regasification units? It is one answer here. There may be another answer that I am missing. If that pipeline from Moffat is under pressure, however, we will be in serious trouble and people will suffer. It is bad enough having very high prices; it will be something different altogether if we do not have gas at all. This is very serious.

I know that a review is ongoing and will be delivered in quarter 3 of 2022. That could be the end of September or October. By that stage, the winter will be on us and it will be too late to do anything. What are the contingency plans in the case of this happening? The Government's own framework states, "we need to be adequately prepared to deal with supply issues, should they materialise". What preparation has been made? The national energy security framework is very good but it heads out to 2030 and 2050. I want to find out about what we are going to do next winter and next September. Let us not forget that there were several occasions last winter when the generation capacity was under pressure.

I know the Minister spoke about making available further generation capacity in Dublin with more gas burning units. If there is no gas to burn in those units, however, what good are they? This is very serious. It is probably one of the most serious issues facing the State. The Government or the Minister of State may have a response on this issue this evening.It may be that contingency plans are being worked on. I would like to know what they are and I think the people would too.

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