Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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251. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the analysis of the UK’s North Sea Transition Authority to the effect that the additional energy requirements associated with LNG relative to natural gas supplies, including the additional energy expended on liquification, transport and regasification, mean that LNG imports are on average over double the emission intensity of domestic gas and pipeline gas imports with a correspondingly increased adverse impact on decarbonisation targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19003/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

The Programme for Government also commits to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 and to take all necessary action to ensure and protect Ireland’s energy security.

It is through delivering on this commitment that a secure and sustainable energy future will be delivered.

The development of a State-led temporary strategic gas emergency reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulation.

The emergency reserve will be in the form of a Floating Storage and Regassification Unit (FSRU), to be owned on behalf of the State by the system operator Gas Networks Ireland (GNI). This is a similar approach to that used for oil security by the National Oil Reserves Agency.

In identifying this as the optimal approach, my Department has built upon the extensive review of security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems which was approved by Government in the ‘Energy Security in Ireland to 2030’ plan in November 2023. This plan includes a range of external reviews and analyses which considered all potential options and impacts from a security and sustainability perspective. The Energy Security Package set out Ireland’s ambition to transform our energy system and support our climate objectives. The plan includes 28 actions, under the pillars of sustainability, affordability and security. Under Action 17 of that plan, GNI was tasked with reviewing and recommending the optimal approach.

The extensive body of work that culminated in the publication of the Energy Security Package, has been complemented by the GNI report, a number of emergency exercises and updated projection regarding the compliance with EU N-1 infrastructure standard taking account of most up to date data.

The strategic gas emergency reserve is a transitional measure that supports a secure transition of our energy system and the policy decision taken by Government ensures the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets is reduced.

The strategic gas emergency reserve is not intended for commercial use. The liquified natural gas will be held in reserve for use in the event of a significant disruption to gas supplies and will be divested when no longer required to secure Ireland's energy systems. This policy decision ensures the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets is reduced, the reserve will be used for emergency use, and does not support increased gas demand with a view to minimising impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The operation of the strategic gas emergency reserve will be underpinned by policy and legislation that my Department is progressing as a matter of priority.