Advisory body warns Government dependence on fossil fuel imports risks disruption and sabotage
The warning comes in a report from the National Economic and Social Council (Nesc) presented to Cabinet on Tuesday, which says that Ireland's fossil fuel import-dependency "is a strategic vulnerability".
The report says that the fact that Ireland holds no domestic gas reserves "is a particular issue of concern and distinguishes Ireland from most other EU member states".
The Department of the Environment's 2023 report Securing Ireland's Gas Supplies identified five strategic risks that could threaten the security of gas supplies to Ireland for both demand-side and supply-side shocks.
They included "technical disruption, sabotage and physical attack, reduced availability of gas from the UK, an inability to meet peak gas demand, and geopolitical supply-chain risks for renewables components that present a risk to climate action delivery".
In March, the Government approved a plan to develop a State-led liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, which will serve as the State's strategic reserve. The plan will see a floating storage and re-gassification unit (FSRU) operated by Gas Networks Ireland.
Meanwhile at Cabinet, energy minister Darragh O'Brien received Government approval to issue letters to the board of ESB and EirGrid noting the €3.5bn in additional equity to support investment in electricity grid infrastructure over 2026-2030.
The investment is split into €2bn for EirGrid, to support the financing of its offshore electricity grid investment plan, and €1.5bn for ESB to support its investment in the onshore electricity grid.
Also at Cabinet, it was agreed that four gardaí will be sent to France this summer to assist the French National Police and the Gendarmerie during the tourist season in Mont-Saint-Michel and Giverny in Normandy during July, August, and September.
Similar deployments were made to France over the last three years, with gardaí deployed to France involved in general patrolling, in uniform, in the company of French officers.
They will not have police powers while in France, and their role will be to assist in any interactions with Irish citizens who are victims of crime or who are involved in crimes. They will also assist with engagement with other nationalities where the first language is English.
Two gardaí have already been deployed, and in total four gardaí will be deployed, with one based in Mont-Saint-Michel and three based in Giverny. Accommodation and food is to be provided by the French authorities.
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