Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Recent reports indicate the Government is now considering a commercial liquefied natural gas, LNG, facility and that this is being seen as a bargaining chip with the Trump Administration. President Trump is a very transactional person and this is seen as something we can give him in our negotiations. That would be contrary to previous Government commitments and policies in favour of a State-led emergency non-commercial facility. Obviously, any decision that is made on energy security needs to be based on evidence. A report was commissioned last year by the previous Minister, charging Cambridge Economic Policy Associates, CEPA, to produce an analysis of our energy security needs and where LNG would fit into them. I have two questions. Is the Government considering commercial LNG at the moment, which would be a clear move away from previous policy? Will it publish the report from CEPA, of which we have not yet seen anything?

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