Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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30. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made to date in developing a policy statement on the transition away from the importation of fracked gas and the development of LNG terminals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16064/20]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans with regard to the LNG terminal in Shannon, County Clare, and the importation of fracked gas in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16085/20]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when legislation will be moved to deal with the building of LNG terminals here; if this will cover each LNG proposal or just the importation of fracked gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15996/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 39 and 40 together.

The Programme for Government states that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas and undertakes to develop a policy statement to establish this approach. My Department is working to develop a proposal to meet this objective which I will bring to Government for approval. The work that is underway includes consideration of what, if any, legislation will be required.

The Programme for Government also states that, as Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, it does not make sense to allow liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals which import fracked gas and that accordingly the Shannon LNG terminal should not be included in the 2021 list of EU Projects of Common Interest. If this project were to apply for inclusion in the list, the requirement for Ireland’s Member State approval, which would not be forthcoming, would arise in the second half of 2021.