Marian Harkin Demands Reinstatement of LNG and Fracked Gas Ban
Marian Harkin asked the Taoiseach whether he will reinstate the ban on all LNG terminals and the importation of fracked gas after amendments to the Planning Bill she said constituted a U-turn. She argued the changes would enable large-scale imports of fracked gas and warned of health and methane emission risks.
She cited page 36 of the programme for Government and pressed the Taoiseach to keep his promise to reinstate a ban on all LNG terminals and on importing fracked gas, saying the Planning Bill amendments amounted to a reversal of that commitment.
The Taoiseach rejected that characterisation, saying the Planning Amendment was technical and had no intention of changing the Government's position on fracked gas or on the development of commercial energy facilities in the State.
The Taoiseach said the amendment was intended to align the Planning Bill with other legislation to avoid legal uncertainty and that it gave no preferential benefit or signal regarding LNG or fracked gas development.
Harkin warned of negative health impacts on communities, mainly in the US, from which fracked gas would be imported, and she highlighted upstream methane emissions that would accelerate climate change.
The Taoiseach emphasised tackling the climate crisis through electrification, stopping the use of all gas, and building interconnectors, battery storage, solar and wind power to reduce emissions and reliance on gas.
Following the Taoiseach's explanation, voices in the chamber called the reply a "non-answer," underscoring the unresolved tension between the TD's question and the Government's response.
What Marian Harkin asked
She cited page 36 of the programme for Government and pressed the Taoiseach to keep his promise to reinstate a ban on all LNG terminals and on importing fracked gas, saying the Planning Bill amendments amounted to a reversal of that commitment.
Government response
The Taoiseach rejected that characterisation, saying the Planning Amendment was technical and had no intention of changing the Government's position on fracked gas or on the development of commercial energy facilities in the State.
Legislative intent described
The Taoiseach said the amendment was intended to align the Planning Bill with other legislation to avoid legal uncertainty and that it gave no preferential benefit or signal regarding LNG or fracked gas development.
Health and climate concerns raised
Harkin warned of negative health impacts on communities, mainly in the US, from which fracked gas would be imported, and she highlighted upstream methane emissions that would accelerate climate change.
Energy transition and alternatives
The Taoiseach emphasised tackling the climate crisis through electrification, stopping the use of all gas, and building interconnectors, battery storage, solar and wind power to reduce emissions and reliance on gas.
Parliamentary reaction
Following the Taoiseach's explanation, voices in the chamber called the reply a "non-answer," underscoring the unresolved tension between the TD's question and the Government's response.
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Transcript
On page 36 of the programme for Government, it states, As Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, we do not believe that it makes sense to develop LNG gas import terminals importing fracked gas. And we do not support the importation of fracked gas. Yet your Government has done a U-turn with the amendments to the Planning Bill, which means we will end up importing large quantities of fracked gas to feed either an onshore or offshore LNG terminal. Your Government must take responsibility for the negative health impacts on those communities, mainly in the US, from which we will import fracked gas, and crucially for the upstream methane emissions that will accelerate climate change. So my question to you Taoiseach is very simple. Will you keep your promise during the last days as Taoiseach of the 33rd Dáil to reinstate the ban on all LNG terminals and on importing fracked gas? Thank you Taoiseach. Minister Ryan respond? Is it okay for Minister Ryan to respond? Yes. Deputy Harkin, I think you are reading something into that Planning Amendment that isn't the case. There is no intention in that amendment to open the door to change the position with regard to either fracked gas or the development of commercial energy facilities in this country. It was purely done for technical reasons to make sure that the legislation was in line with other legislation so that there wouldn't be legal uncertainty in regard to any development here. And it gave no preferential benefit or signal in that regard. We do have to tackle climate change crisis. That's all the clear every day. That requires us to switch to electrification of everything in our country and to stop the use of gas, all gas. And I believe in the building of interconnectors, in the building of battery storage, solar power, wind power, we are starting to see that happen. Significant reduction in our own emissions, but also significant reduction now possible in the use of gas. That will be the way that we provide greater security. Non-answer. That is true. Non-answer. Non-answer. Non-answer.