Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government Policy Statement on Petroleum Exploration and Production in Ireland, published in August 2022, reaffirms the commitment contained in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the decision taken in 2019 by the previous Government in relation to oil exploration and extraction. This position is also supported through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. Only holders of existing authorisations can continue to apply to progress through the standard licensing lifecycle stages towards a natural conclusion, which may include expiry, relinquishment, production or refusal. No new authorisations for new exploration can be considered.

Any applications for follow-on authorisations or applications to undertake offshore activities under an authorisation are subject to Ministerial consent and must continue to meet environmental, technical, and financial criteria as appropriate.

With regard to the IEA and Ireland’s co-chair of the recent IEA Ministerial Event, it was made clear in the Communique that IEA Members were committed to transitioning away from using fossil fuels to renewables. This ties in with the strong commitments agreed at COP 28.