Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach.

Today I want to discuss the critical issue of strategic gas storage. If the Government is going ahead with its plan for more gas infrastructure, there is an imperative need for robust legal and regulatory measures governing its implementation. It is essential to establish a framework that ensures any strategic gas storage is temporary and does not increase gas demand and that it aligns with our climate obligations.

Why are we saying that any proposed strategic gas should meet this threshold? The reasons are multifaceted and deeply rooted. First, we must prevent long-term fossil fuel lock-in. Committing to new fossil fuel infrastructure poses a significant risk of perpetuating polluting emissions and increasing our reliance on fracked gas imports. Such infrastructure would also undermine our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and could lock us into decades of reliance on fossil fuels, counteracting our climate goals.

Moreover, there are profound implications for our climate leadership. We know that Ireland, and rightly so, took a prominent stance in the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, the European Union and the International Energy Agency. Introducing new fossil fuel infrastructure could erode that leadership position that we have taken and contradict our commitments to transitioning towards cleaner energy sources. An independent risk assessment is crucial in this context.

Gas Networks Ireland, while an important stakeholder, has a vested interest in increasing gas supply. To ensure unbiased and comprehensive assessments, we must involve independent bodies such as the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and the Climate Change Advisory Council. Any proposed infrastructure must be meticulously evaluated for its risks to public safety, national security and its potential for locking us in to further emissions. We must address the conflict of interest in having Gas Networks Ireland alone analyse the feasibility of a strategic, temporary floating storage and regasification unit. Ensuring that GNI's plans align with the State's carbon budget programme should be non-negotiable.

Looking beyond our borders, we do see that President Biden's administration has taken decisive action in halting new LNG exports and reviewing the impacts of LNG. These actions underscore the global shift towards scrutinising and curbing fossil-fuel dependancy and, similarly, concerns with voting LNG terminals delaying the transition away from gas should prompt us to question the applicability of such solutions in Ireland. The same vigilance applied to our Moffat import point must extend to any floating strategic reserve unit proposals.

There are several risks to a floating LNG terminal, in particular the concerns about a strategic State-led LNG terminal that would never be used. I am not aware of any precedence on whether it is feasible in practice. I would like to hear the Minister's view on floating LNG terminals losing 20% of their cargo every four months due to boil-off of gas. If the plan is not to use it but to have it as a back-up reserve, how does that square? We need guarantees to stop third party LNG importers from operating at the site and assurances that it will not open the floodgates to other fracked gas import terminals opening elsewhere.We also need assurances that this will not open up the market to direct LNG imports. The Government energy security review outlines essential conditions for any strategic gas storage initiative. If we are to enforce these conditions effectively, we must ensure enduring enforcement and adherence to our climate commitments that cannot be rolled back on.

As we deliberate on the future of our strategic gas storage, we need to remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability, independence and leadership in climate action. The implementation of a robust legal and regulatory framework is not just a necessity but a responsibility.