Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach knows, I have warned for years about the potential for an energy crisis and our exposure to elevated prices. Sadly, what I had warned about has come to pass. The current energy crisis has disrupted our economy and driven inflation on a massive scale. It poses real risks to our economy as, like it or not, we are dependent on oil and gas for the functioning of our economy. Even with a massive renewable build, we will still need gas as our backup fuel for electricity.

We still do not know how the Ukrainian war will pan out and we have seen ill-disposed actors sabotage critical gas pipelines like Nord Stream in Germany and Baltic connectors in Finland. Combined with the terrible situation between Israel and Palestine, our current gas storage and supply arrangements look completely inadequate and are in breach of EU legislation on gas storage. Despite my consistent warnings, nothing was done, apart from the Government kicking the can down the road in the hope that none of its bad policies would catch it out before leaving office. In the meantime, prices have skyrocketed and we are paying the price for not having a long-term and resilient energy system. The crisis is hitting all of us, in particular hard-working families, directly in the pocket.

I understand in recent days a number of reports have been finally been published by the Minister, Deputy Ryan. It seems his Department has finally understood that our only option for gas security of supply is a floating storage and regasification terminal. Will the Taoiseach advise us of the Government strategy on this,? Why has it taken the Government, which has highly paid officials and advisers, almost four years to realise that our only option for gas security of supply is a floating storage regasification terminal? When will this piece of critical infrastructure be put in place to ensure our national energy security? Where will the terminal be sited?

As the Taoiseach knows, I have mentioned Cork in recent years in the Dail as a potential site for the floating terminal. What is the competence within our State bodies for the development of a floating storage and regasification terminal? Will the Taoiseach assure me that a terminal company which will lease or purchase the terminal will be Irish owned and controlled?

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