Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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295. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the policy statement to be produced in April 2021 regarding the approach to opposing the importation of fracked gas as noted in the Programme for Government; the measures he will take to ensure this position is raised with all relevant public bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20810/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government sets out 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 in the process of developing the policy statement, which includes the consideration of any necessary legal and regulatory provisions. This includes detailed examination of the European energy and environmental frameworks, in which our national laws operate, to ensure the policy statement will be legally robust. In this regard my Department is actively engaged with the Office of the Attorney General to conclude the matter as a priority.

I will bring the policy statement to Government for approval as soon as the necessary work outlined above is concluded.  The policy statement will be published once approved.