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

By all means. Obviously, if any facility is built, that would be the first thing for consideration by both the regulator and the planning authority. You would have to make sure that you have all the processes and procedures in place. However, we are not at the position where we are deciding whether we would have any LNG facility. There is further analysis needed. The Deputy mentioned the international aspect to this in the US but there is also European analysis. I mentioned earlier on that I was at the European Energy Council today. One of the key discussions was around the sort of interconnection. There is key work we need to do with the UK Government in deciding future interconnection policy as well as with the French Government or, even potentially, extending further to Spain or to work with Belgium and other countries to deliver that interconnection.

The key first question, as I said repeatedly this evening, is around whether the advancement of such technology, along with storage and other capabilities, would mean that we would not require a facility.

Obviously, if there is a facility and we find that does not cover our needs, and we have a security risk, the first thing we would assess is the safety of any facility. That is something the CRU and the planning authorities will have to deliver.

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