Ireland Thinks poll finds twice as many people oppose fracked gas terminal as support it

Concerned citizens are urging TDs to vote against the Planning Bill if it fast tracks commercial LNG imports

A new poll by Ireland Thinks has found twice as many people are opposed to a fracked gas import terminal as support it. It comes as concerned citizens urge deputies to vote against the new Planning Bill if it fast tracks LNG imports, which could include fracked gas from the US.

Friends of the Earth, which commissioned the poll, say last-minute amendments to the Planning Bill designate liquified natural gas as "strategic infrastructure", which means planning applications would be fast-tracked through the State planning authority.

According to An Board Pleanála's website, strategic infrastructure "can generally be described as development which is of strategic economic or social importance to Ireland, the region or local areas".

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If the Bill passes with LNG outlined as strategic, that means any planning applications for commercial LNG would be considered by ABP/ACP and appeals are not allowed on their decision.

Any concerns would have to be raised through the courts, but since the Planning Bill also includes significant changes to judicial reviews, they will only be allowed in limited circumstances and after a submission to the planning authority.

Friends of the Earth is asking all TDs to support removing LNG from the Bill and, if the Government refuses to do that, to vote against the Bill altogether this evening.

Its chief executive, Oisín Coghlan, said: "On the one hand, the Government decided as part of the Energy Security Review there should never be any commercial LNG terminals in Ireland, and that while they research whether state-controlled LNG could provide an emergency gas backup, 'it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted or proceeded with'.

"But on the other hand, the Government is pushing through last-minute amendments to the Planning Bill that designate LNG as strategic infrastructure. You don’t legally designate something you oppose, or aren’t sure we need, as strategic! The contradiction is so absurd it feels like the Government is gaslighting us.

"Before entering Government, the Green Party promised to 'stand firm' against importing fracked gas and Shannon LNG. They presented the Government’s energy policy decisions in 2021 and 2023 as a moratorium on LNG and a prohibition on commercial LNG for ever. Well, someone seems to have forgotten to tell the officials who wrote the Planning Bill, not to mention the judges of the High Court."

He said the Green Party either "took their eye off the ball" or "don't mind that the risk of new fossil fuel import terminals being approved has sky rocketed".

And Coghlan said that he drove home that point during a meeting with Energy Minister Eamon Ryan and Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman on Monday. Oisin added: "We left them in no doubt that the Greens' legacy in government is at grave risk if they leave the door open to fracked gas and LNG terminals on their way out the door.

"I think they got the message that government policy now looks, at best, confused to any reasonable observer and that if government doesn't reassert that policy with authority, there is a risk Shannon LNG will proceed through planning and with that their legacy in government would unravel."

He told us: "The science is clear that importing LNG is worse than burning coal. We may as well just keep Moneypoint on the go for energy security as build a new LNG terminal."

TDs will note on the Planning Bill on Wednesday evening with a protest planned outside Leinster House on Wednesday afternoon.

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