Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures that he is putting in place to ensure gas supply this winter, given the unexplained Nord Stream explosions in September 2022 which could impact Ireland’s supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55323/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Since the middle of 2021, Russia has been reducing gas deliveries to Europe, and the decline has continued to gather pace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February this year. Russia has continued to supply reduced volumes of gas to central Europe via a legacy pipeline transit route running across Ukraine. And at the start of September, the company fully halted gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline — before the explosions damaged the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines running across the Baltic Sea to Germany.

This shortfall in gas supplies has resulted in record high gas prices. The European Union’s primary response has been to address the supply-demand imbalance by attracting more supplies through LNG and introducing Council Regulations to:

- store gas for the winter ahead;

- reduce gas demand;

- reduce electricity demand;

This approach has seen some softening of gas prices in recent weeks. In parallel, measures have been put in place to reduce windfall profits of energy companies and show solidarity with consumers.

Gas Network Ireland’s recently published Winter Outlook for Winter 2022/2023 notes that uncertainty exists around European gas supply sources and around achieving demand reduction in Europe this winter, particularly in a prolonged cold spell. However, the outlook sets out that it is not currently envisaged that there will be any disruption to the supply of gas to Ireland this winter. Nevertheless, we need to remain vigilant to any potential impacts due to Russia’s cutting off the gas supplies and other unforeseen issues arising. Ireland continues to cooperate closely with our EU partners to address the challenges to the EU caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The National Energy Security Framework, which was published in April this year, provides a single overarching and initial response to address Ireland’s energy security needs in the context of the war in Ukraine. It coordinates work connected to energy security across the electricity, gas and oil sectors and sets out a ‘whole-of-Government’ response to the challenges posed to energy security and energy affordability. As part of this framework an exercise was held in September this year to test our gas and electricity emergency plans. In addition, my Department are working closely with the Department of Defence to provide additional security to protect critical energy infrastructure. However, it would not be appropriate to comment on any specific operational measures.