Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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32. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32210/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government sets out that, as Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, it does not make sense to develop LNG terminals that import fracked gas. The Programme for Government is clear that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas and commits to developing a Policy Statement to establish that approach.

My Department is developing the Policy Statement and the legal/regulatory provisions necessary to ensure LNG terminals could not, under any circumstances, import fracked gas. This includes detailed consideration of the European energy and environmental frameworks, in which our national laws operate, to ensure the Policy Statement will be legally robust. Once finalised, I intend to bring the Policy Statement to Government for approval.

In addition, my Department is carrying out a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems which is focusing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. The review will include a full updated technical analysis of the security of supply challenges and mitigating options and the undertaking of a public consultation.

The review will inform future policy in relation to gas supplies, electricity interconnection, hydrogen, energy efficiency, demand management, gas storage, emergency reserves and other measures that would enhance our security of supply in the context of the doubling of the electricity generated from renewable sources (principally wind and solar) to 70% of Ireland’s final consumption and the achievement of net zero emissions by 2050. I expect that the review will be completed by the end of 2021.