Joint Statement Following Release of Climate Committee Scrutiny Report on Proposed LNG Bill

Joint Statement Following Release of Climate Committee Scrutiny Report on Proposed LNG Bill - The Labour Party

During pre-legislative scrutiny of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025 we heard extensive testimony from a variety of experts who highlighted the extremely serious concerns associated with this Bill.

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.

We as opposition members of the Committee wish to additionally express our shared viewpoint that the development of an LNG terminal as proposed in the Bill 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.

We believe that proceeding with this proposed legislation could lead to missed climate targets, increased gas demand and fossil fuel lock in, an entry point for commercial LNGand 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.

Ciarán Ahern TD, Labour Party

Senator Alice–Mary Higgins, Independent

Senator Malcolm Noonan, Green Party

Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats