Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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51. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policy in relation to the facilitation of new LNG facilities. [3263/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Natural Gas, the lowest carbon-emitting fossil fuel, is an important transition fuel on the pathway to decarbonisation. The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2017 recognises the role which gas will play in the transition to 2050. In Ireland, gas powered electricity generation provides an important back-up for intermittent renewable wind generation. Natural Gas has the potential to play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the power generation, industrial and commercial, residential and transport sectors by replacing more CO2-intensive fossil fuels.

The potential for LNG was examined as part of a study carried out by Gas Networks Ireland and EirGrid, on Ireland’s resilience to a long-term gas disruption. While the study found that Ireland’s gas network is largely resilient to cope with a long duration gas disruption, it recommended, subject to a detailed cost benefit analysis, a floating LNG terminal may be the most appropriate option to further enhance Ireland’s security of gas supply.

There have been a number of announcements of private sector commercial proposals to build LNG facilities in Ireland. These are commercial projects and the location, development and final investment decisions for these projects are ultimately the responsibility of the project promoters. It is the responsibility of the respective project promoters to comply with any legal and regulatory requirements, including requirements for planning permission, consents, permits and related environmental impact assessments.