Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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189. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update in respect of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s natural gas [11744/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is carrying out a review of security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems focussing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. The review includes a technical analysis which will help inform a public consultation. The technical analysis includes identification and examination of the key risks to the security of supply in the electricity and natural gas systems; identification of options that could address or mitigate these risks in the period to 2030; and appraisal of these options in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. 

I expect the technical analysis will be published and the public consultation commenced by mid-2022. It is planned to complete the overall review following this consultation, at which point, it will be submitted to Government.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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190. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide a detailed note regarding Ireland’s natural gas contingency supply in the event that Ireland’s European source is discontinued due to the conflict in Ukraine [11745/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Ireland sources around one-quarter of its gas from the Corrib gas field, and three-quarters via the UK, which has diverse sources of supply. The UK’s gas supply comes mainly from indigenous supplies, via pipeline from Norway and through imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).  In addition, the UK can also import via two gas interconnectors connecting the UK to Belgium and the Netherlands. Both the UK and Ireland both have far less reliance on Russian gas than other European Countries. The European Commission is a working closely with Member States to protect the resilience of  Europe’s gas security of supply and the Commission is also actively engaging with other countries to ensure sufficient and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse sources across the globe to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result from disruptions.

Any disruption of Russian gas supplies would maintain upward pressure on European gas prices, with knock-on effects on electricity prices. In the unlikely event of any gas supply emergency, there is excellent cooperation between Irish and UK gas system operators – to maintain security of gas supplies from the UK. This cooperation includes regular testing of emergency plans by the operators.

Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) is the designated National Gas Emergency Manager appointed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. GNI prepare a “Natural Gas Emergency Plan” which is subject to approval by the CRU in pursuance of its statutory functions in respect of security of gas supply. GNI’s Natural Gas Emergency Plan, which is publicly available, sets out in detail the procedure for managing a Network Gas Emergency and provides details on the role of GNI as the National Gas Emergency Manager.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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191. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of imported gas via Europe and the UK in the past five years to date; and the origin of that imported gas [11746/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As illustrated in the table below, Ireland’s gas import dependency is rising in line with the decline in production at the indigenous Corrib gas field.

In addition to indigenous Irish gas production, Ireland imports natural gas via the UK. The UK has a well-diversified source of gas supplies comprised of:

- Indigenous gas production in the UK continental shelf

- Imported gas via pipelines to Norway

- Imported gas via a pipeline to the Netherlands

- Imported gas via a pipeline to Belgium

- Imported gas at a number of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) reception terminals in the UK

- Withdrawals from gas storage facilities in the UK.