OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF the Oireachtas climate committee have said the government’s planned liquefied natural gas terminal is “fundamentally incompatible” with Ireland’s position on climate change and would likely lead to targets being missed. 

Last year, the government approved the Floating Storage and Regassification Unit (FSRU), a large vessel that will be able to store and transport Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and turn it from liquid back to a gaseous state to supply the national gas network.

Minister for Energy Darragh O’Brien has tabled legislation that means the planning application for the floating LNG unit will go directly to him, rather than to An Coimisiún Pleanála. 

The opposition politicians, two TDs and two senators, have issued a joint statement today to publicise the expert testimony heard by the committee which they say “highlighted the extremely serious concerns associated with this Bill”. 

Labour TD Ciarán Ahern, independent Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, Green Party senator Malcolm Noonan and Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said:

“The significant concerns raised, and risks identified by witnesses, as well as steps that should be taken and crucial changes needed to the text of the legislation, are reflected in the Committee report and its recommendations.” 

They also said they shared the view that the development of an LNG terminal “is fundamentally incompatible with the National Climate Objective, is not an appropriate, sustainable or effective solution to our energy security needs and would in fact would open Ireland up to serious risks”. 

Those risks include missing EU-mandated climate targets, which would result in fines. 

The opposition politicians also said the development of the terminal could lead to an increase in demand for gas and “fossil fuel lock in”. 

They also said “an entry point for commercial LNG and further increases and levies on already extortionate household energy bills”.

“This Bill would place the burden of Government failure to deliver on sustainable Irish energy security on ordinary people and it would also be failing in our duty to the global south,” the joint statement said.  

Unsure of what exactly is happening with the earth’s climate? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.