Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

83. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he or his Department have been lobbied with regard to the promised increase in the quantity of oil and gas which is to be purchased from the United States of America by the European Union; the contribution that this State is expected to make towards such an increase, and-or the potential for related loosening of environmental and climate regulations and human rights safeguards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49306/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question relates to proposals under the recent trade agreement between the EU and the Trump Administration. The ridiculous tariffs got the headlines, but under this agreement the EU has further bent the knee to "king" Trump and agreed to massively increase the level of fossil fuels being purchased from the United States - €750 billion worth. There have also been reports of US officials, including its energy secretary, Chris Wright, engaging in extensive lobbying with EU member states on this matter, seeking the loosening of environmental protections. Has the Minister of State or his Department been lobbied on these issues by US officials or by officials from within the EU or other member states?

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Deputy's question. Ireland engages with the US across a broad range of multilateral energy forums, from the United Nations and the G20, where Ireland is a guest country under the current South African Presidency, to the IEA and IRENA. While respecting different policy emphases regarding, for example, energy mix and the role of renewables in particular, we also enjoy an excellent bilateral relationship with United States colleagues on issues related to energy and beyond.

In relation to gas specifically, my Department has had regular engagements on the topic of gas security of supply with various European and international ministries and embassies, including the US Embassy, where our officials discussed the development of a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve, in the form of a floating storage and regasification unit to secure and protect Ireland’s energy systems from the consequences of any disruption to our subsea gas pipelines. This proactive intervention, once developed, will ensure that Ireland's largest commercial entities that rely on gas for production of pharmaceutical products, medical devices, IT, manufacturing, food and beverages will not experience a disruption to their energy supplies if damage to gas subsea pipelines occurs. The strategic reserve facility will be State-owned and the contract for replenishing with LNG will be through open-market procurement.

There has been no request from, nor promise given to, the US with regard to a diminution of Ireland's application of EU standards with regard to, for example, environmental assessment of infrastructural projects. Nor has Ireland agreed to increase the amount of oil imported from the US. In fact, our overall reliance on oil is decreasing in line with our climate ambitions.

Around 80% of Ireland’s gas supply comes from two interconnector pipelines from the UK, a well-diversified source, and the remaining 20% of natural gas is supplied from the Corrib gas field, off the coast of Mayo. Ireland currently has no other gas supply or entry points.

In relation to energy infrastructure delivery more generally, over the last five years Ireland, along with other EU member states, has looked to support the acceleration of planning for, and delivery of, energy installations through legislation introduced to modernise both the terrestrial planning system and marine planning system. However, Ireland’s environmental assessment process has not been diluted and remains a robust process, and nor has there been a reduction in our ambitious climate goals and objectives.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will be aware of our concerns on this side of the House with the Government's plans to overturn the previous Government's ban on the importation of fracked gas to facilitate the State-led strategic LNG reserve. I am sure the Minister of State is aware of the implications this will have for Shannon LNG and other commercial operators. It is opening the door, inadvertently or otherwise, to massive commercial importation of fracked gas. The Minister of State can make all the claims he wants about commitment to climate action, but importing this highly polluting fossil fuel at this time in our climate struggle and building new fossil fuel infrastructure really calls that commitment in question. I am glad to hear that the Government has not made any new commitments, but what are we going to do in other areas to make up for the inevitable increase in emissions from recent decisions the Government has made, including now the importation of fracked gas? What will we do in other areas to mitigate that?

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government's intention on the installation of a facility like the floating LNG facility that is proposed is that it is being led by the State rather than a commercial entity. It is being done in a controlled manner that will, as I outlined in the earlier answer, allow us to protect a critical supply in the event of anything happening to the two interconnectors or indeed the subsea pipeline which connects the Corrib field. It is a protection system and will not increase the usage of gas. Those of us who believe in the transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner and renewable energy still recognise that gas will be that transition fuel for quite some time, recognising that the wind does not blow all the time and the sun does not shine all the time.

Last Friday, I launched the Government's next wave of offshore wind energy proposals. We are starting the process of developing a designated marine plan around our coastline which will identify sites suitable for fixed-bottom and floating wind generation. That is our direction of travel and we are committed to that. As the Deputy knows, by 2030 we intend to have another 5 GW of electricity in construction and by 2040 an additional 15 GW. We are absolutely committed to renewables but we must accept that we must have protections in the event of anything happening to the supplies of gas that are already there.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I accept and understand the energy security concerns here. However, the point I am making is that overturning this ban on the importation of fracked gas has opened the door not just to a State-led facility but to commercial exploitation and importation of fracked gas, using the same rules that the State is using to allow it. That is the problem. While the State facility may not be the most damaging way of going about things, it seems the commercial importation of fracked gas will now happen and An Coimisiún Pleanála is adjudicating on that at the moment. That is the huge problem here. Whether it is inadvertent or otherwise, the Government's decision here is potentially opening the door to massive importation of gas and increased gas use at a time when we are trying to avoid that. That is our problem here. There is a backsliding here on our climate commitments. We are asking the Government to stand up for our climate, to find other ways and to have red lines. The Minister of State needs to say to his Department, "We know there are energy security concerns, but find another way with no more fossil fuel infrastructure."

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In addition to our support for the renewable energy sector, particularly with wind and solar, we are also enhancing our support for biogas. The Deputy will know that the Government has a strategy on that. We will see seven or eight projects in the very near future coming into play for that biogas system through the anaerobic digestion system.

We are absolutely committed to eliminating, insofar and as quickly as we possibly can, the dependence on fossil fuels to power our economy, while also recognising that our economy is growing with significant demands. We want to move away from using gas to generate electricity. We want to capture more of the renewable energy off our shoreline and utilise biogas as an appropriate means to further displace the importation of fossil fuels.