Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The key document here is our energy security paper from November last year, which looked at a whole range of different risks to energy security. That is the place where we say that the only facility we could or would introduce is one that is purely temporary, strategic and security oriented. In those circumstances, where the project is State-led, I believe conditions could be set as regards the amount of security to be provided, not having fracked gas and so on. I am absolutely confident that is deliverable and doable.

To my mind, Friends of the Earth is misreading what the amendment is about. It is complex and technical and goes back many months in a very complicated Bill. There was a potential risk arising from onshore facilities and offshore facilities being under different planning regimes. We had to ensure a standardised approach. Strategic infrastructure provisions are very common. A number of wind farms have to go through it. It is not just fossil fuel infrastructure. It does not mean that the planning process is avoided. It still has to go through An Bord Pleanála. The amendment was just made to make sure there were not inconsistencies in our planning system. The fundamental question is whether we want such a commercial facility. Clearly, the Government is saying "No"

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