Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I am grateful to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. It has been an important matter over many years, but over the past six days it has become even more important in the context of the geopolitical issues occurring in Ukraine. I wish to take this opportunity to express my complete revulsion and outrage at what has been done by Russian forces to the people of Ukraine over the past six days and express my solidarity with every man, woman and child in Ukraine. I hope that the glorified spy ring on Orwell Road known as the Russian Embassy, which I am sure is listening to what is being said this morning, as it is every day, will very soon get its marching orders out of this country never to come back.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and appreciate him for being here. However, it is unfortunate that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is not here to take this matter because our energy security is something of utter importance right now and in the short, medium and long terms. Throughout Europe, countries have in the past six days pivoted in their position on energy security and changed their policies. In Germany, the Green Party is in government and a decision was made in recent days to build liquified natural gas, LNG, terminals. Issues that were not even on the table this time last week are now being considered and decisions are being made to change policy because of the over-reliance on gas coming from Russia and the time it will take to provide alternatives. People are now starting to think realistically and transition to renewable sources of energy that we all know are needed in the future. There is time in the middle and a period during which I am afraid that the lights will go out. I am very concerned that our only policy in this country for that transitional period seems to be one of complete denial and that we are, in effect, going to hope for the best and hope that the lights do not go out.

We have had many amber alerts regarding energy supply in recent times, before the appalling situation in eastern Europe kicked off. What do we think is going to happen in the future? This is something that is, as I said, of critical importance to our entire country and everybody on the island, yet our policy of denial is something that I feel will not work in the future. I do not believe that a Joe Jacob-style policy of handing a candle out to every household in case the lights go out, like the iodine tablets years ago - something we might need again - is enough. We need something more concrete. An application is currently up for a decision regarding the building of an LNG terminal on the Shannon estuary. This is an opportunity for Ireland to try to safeguard some of our national energy security, yet we have a stick our head in the sand approach from Government, as far as I can see, regarding what we need do to keep the lights on in this country. We all want to move to renewables, but that is not simple and cannot be done overnight. The misinformation and twist being put on the Shannon LNG application, which involves overlooking the renewable and transitionary elements of the application and its compatibility with future technologies, is concerning. I would appreciate a response from the Minister of State regarding whether those issues can be addressed.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this very important issue around energy security and policy. I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who could not be here today.

At the outset, I wish to reiterate that the Government continues to stand in full solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our EU partners. Our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unwavering. We stand with the people of Ukraine and will work with the EU to provide continued support. Let me condemn the outrageous actions of Russia and Belarus in their aggression in Ukraine.

This crisis has brought into sharp focus the reliance of the EU and Ireland on fossil fuel imports. We must continue to accelerate the clean energy transition, focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energies. The European Commission is working closely with member states to protect the resilience and security of Europe's gas supply. The Commission is also actively engaging with other countries to ensure a sufficient and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse sources across the globe to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result in disruptions.

Natural gas continues to flow and be traded normally, albeit at high prices. Lessons have been learned since the Russian gas crisis of 2006-2009, including the adoption of an improved internal energy market in the European Union. Ireland sources roughly one-quarter of its gas from the Corrib gas field and three quarters via the UK. The UK's gas supply comes mainly from indigenous supplies via pipelines from Norway and through imports of LNG. In addition, the UK also imports via two gas interconnectors connecting the UK to Belgium and the Netherlands. The UK and Ireland have far less reliance on Russian gas than other European countries.

An analysis of the potential impact of a partial or complete curtailment of Russian pipeline gas supplies to Europe indicates that, in the unlikely event of a disruption to Russian supplies, the result would be manageable for Europe. Ireland is a member of the International Energy Agency, IEA, and is in continuous consultation with our European and international partners to ensure energy security. Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and his counterparts agreed to release 60 million barrels from oil reserves to show solidarity with Ukraine and help maintain stability in global oil supplies. This is only the fourth time in the IEA's history that it has agreed to a release of strategic reserves, which demonstrate the international community's commitment to maintaining stability in energy markets and solidarity with Ukraine.

Ireland holds 90 days demand of stock in oil, in line with its international commitments, and intends to participate in the action. Ongoing conflict in the Ukraine region is likely to maintain pressure on European gas prices, with knock-on effects on electricity prices.

Like Ireland, both the IEA and the EU have stressed that the current situation only further threatens our collective resolve to accelerate the clean energy transition in line with the European green deal.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State has been sent in here to take this Topical Issue matter. I do not why we have Topical Issue matters if the Ministers responsible do not show up. There is not really much point. I have been in the situation previously where I have had to answer for other Ministers in the Chamber. There is no point in me having at go at the Minister of State today. I would like to have had a decent discussion with the Minister to try to get to the bones of the issue, but unfortunately that has not happened. I do not know why the Minister is not here. I wish to make the point that the cheese has moved. In the last six days, things have changed. It is okay for Government to change policy when matters of fundamental change occur outside of our control. Yet, from the response the Minister of State has given me, I am convinced that the heads are still very firmly buried in the sand and the sand has gone into the brain at this stage. Europe is so dependent on Russian gas that it is going to impact on this country. We need to have options and we need to be able to look at alternative sources while we get our act together in relation to renewable energy. As long as we continue to deny that and to ignore that reality, we are at risk of the lights going out. I raised the issue three months ago in this Chamber. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, was not available for questions on that occasion either. I told the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smith, not to blame the people of County Kerry or the rest of us if the lights go out. We have done everything that we can to try to progress the Shannon LNG proposal, for example. It has been going on for years now. I met the people of Ballylongford on Monday to discuss the issue again. There was hope that the Government would see sense. Now, we are getting the same drivel back from officials in the Department, who seem to be completely wagging the dog in relation to our energy policy. As far as I can see, they are people who are living in a bunker and do not have any cop on in relation to our energy security. I ask that this crazy policy is reviewed before the lights go out and before people are sitting the dark and the cold in this country because of Government inaction and its determination to ignore reality.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the very important matter of Ireland's energy security following the invasion of Ukraine. I hear the Deputy's considered views and opinions. I will certainly bring them the Minister's attention. The best way to secure our energy needs is to continue to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Climate Action Plan 2021 sets us on a pathway to reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels dramatically by 2030. Measures include the following: aiming for up to 80% of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030, including an increased target of up to 5 GW of offshore wind, 8 GW from onshore wind and 1.5 GW to 2.5 GW from solar PV; 500,000 extra walking, cycling and public transport journeys per day by 2030; and an increase in the proportion of kilometres driven by passenger electric cars to between 40% and 45% by 2030, in addition to a reduction of 10% in kilometres driven by the remaining internal combustion engine cars.

IEA members hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels of oil. Yesterday's IEA announcement of an initial release of 60 million barrels, or 4% of that stockpile, is equivalent to 2 million barrels a day for 30 days. This sends a unified and strong message to global markets that there will be no shortfall in supplies as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Any disruption of Russian gas supplies would maintain upward pressure on European gas prices with knock-on effects on electricity prices. In the unlikely event of any gas supply emergency, there is excellent co-operation between Irish and UK gas system operators. Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, is the designated national gas emergency manager appointed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. GNI prepares a natural gas emergency plan which sets out a detailed procedure for managing a network gas emergency and provides details on the role of GNI as the national gas emergency manager. In the medium to long term, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is carrying out a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland's electricity and natural gas systems, focusing on the period through to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to net zero emissions by 2050.