By A Deegan
In late August XRI staged a coordinated international anti-LNG, anti-fracking protest at the Dublin - New York Portal with activists from Sane Energy, New York. Irish protesters chanted “from Dublin to NYC, we say no to LNG” and “New Fortress Energy, we don't want your LNG”. LNG is as bad as coal in terms of its greenhouse gas emissions and we cannot allow it to get a foothold in this country - whether it’s from fracked sources or not. (Check out video of our protest.)
Since then, there’s been bad news that we need to act on. New Fortress, who had been refused permission to develop a commercial LNG terminal in September last year by An Bord Pleanála, won their appeal in the High Court - on the grounds that Eamon Ryan’s May 2021 Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas was not sufficient basis for them to have based their refusal on. The decision is now due to be remitted back to An Bord Pleanála on 14th October and they may very well decide to grant permission this time.
Our anti-LNG, anti-fracking protest at the Dublin-NY Portal in August
Our anti-LNG, anti-fracking protest at the Dublin-NY Portal in August with Sane Energy New York’s banner visible on the NY side.
Our anti-LNG, anti-fracking protest at the Dublin-NY Portal in August
Meanwhile, the dangerously-flawed Planning and Development Bill 2023, which fast-tracks LNG, oil and gas and data centre planning applications is being rushed through the houses of the Oireachtas and is about to be passed into law.
There has been one hopeful development in the LNG story recently, with climate group Not Here Not Anywhere’s LNG Free Bill which bans LNG infrastructure having been picked to go to second stage on the evening of 9th November. But the date of the next general election hasn’t been set yet, so it’s not clear if there will be enough time for it to be passed.
So where does this all leave us? It means we have to apply maximum pressure before the 14th October remittal date, try to stop the Planning and Development Bill 2023 from being passed or at minimum get it amended and push for the passage of the LNG Free Bill as soon as possible.
The good news is that there are multiple ways you can help achieve the right outcomes in the fight against LNG. You can
Attend the “Say No to Shannon LNG and No to Fracked Gas” protest outside Leinster House, Kildare St this Wednesday 9th Oct at noon.
Take an e-action addressed to Green Party TDs and Senators calling on them to establish a legally strong moratorium on LNG imports and strip out the designation of LNG as strategic from the Planning Bill.
Contact your TDs to push them to support strong amendments to the Planning Bill against LNG terminals by TD’s Thomas Pringle, Eoin O'Broin and Cian O'Callaghan.
And please be sure to stay tuned as things are happening fast on the LNG front and we need everyone to be paying attention so it doesn’t slip through on our watch!
