Minister O’Brien must intervene to stop Ireland’s climate targets being undermined by Shannon LNG project
Responding to An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission to Shannon LNG, Labour Party Spokesperson for Climate, Environment and Energy Deputy Ciarán Ahern has outlined his strong opposition to the highly polluting power plant and to the importation of fracked gas to Ireland. Deputy Ahern has called on Minister Darragh O’Brien to intervene, and to secure Ireland’s energy future by ensuring State-led development of clean, renewable energy infrastructure.
Deputy Ahern said:
“The approval of planning permission for a commercial LNG plant on the Shannon Estuary completely flies in the face of our climate goals. The doors are being opened for the further importation of highly polluting fracked gas. This cannot be allowed to proceed.
“I fail to see how An Bord Pleanála in making this decision are meeting their requirements under Section 15 of our climate law, which mandates all public bodies in carrying out their functions to comply with our climate obligations and policies. In what world does reducing our carbon emissions mean importing even more fossil fuels?
“Minister O’Brien needs to make his views clear on this. When the Planning & Development Bill was making its way through the Oireachtas, the Labour Party was repeatedly assured by Government Ministers that there were no plans to import fracked gas. Now, within a matter of months and under the influence of climate-denying independents, we’re seeing them roll back on that promise. It is becoming increasingly clear that this Government has little interest in meeting our climate targets.
“Ultimately, it is people who will suffer through increased energy bills, more pollution and a worse environment, not to mention the fact that the money to pay for the up to €26 billion in fines we’ll face has to come from somewhere.
“The Government has already proposed a floating LNG terminal to be used as a strategic gas emergency reserve, which I have my issues with, but the construction of a permanent LNG plant with no defined lifespan is 10 times worse. They cannot claim that a second LNG terminal is needed to secure our energy supply either, because in the time it will take to construct we could and should develop greatly enhanced renewable energy capacity. That is where our focus must be; not on importing even more fossil fuels.
“If this is a matter of energy security, then the direction of travel must be towards exploiting our abundant clean, renewable energy sources like offshore wind. Government must ramp up State investment in offshore wind farms via the ESB so that the enormous potential that is there can be realised, and we will have a secure, non-polluting source of energy, and households will feel the benefits in their pockets.
“The construction of this new LNG terminal benefits no one but the profits of the operator. I would add to that serious questions are yet to be answered regarding the financial position of the US-based company spearheading this project.
“Minister O’Brien needs to urgently intervene to stop this project going ahead and make it clear that it is completely contrary to our climate goals. If he is sincere in his concern about Ireland’s energy security, then he should put his money where his mouth is and ensure that the State takes a much stronger role in the development of clean, renewable energy infrastructure.”