Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has called on the Government to legislate for a ban on imported fracked gas following today\u2019s High Court decision to quash all permissions for Shannon LNG.<\/p>\n
Deputy Whitmore said:<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter a 13-year battle, Shannon LNG has lost all permissions to build its fracked gas import terminal on the Shannon Estuary. The conclusion of the legal process now opens a window for an Irish ban on the importation of fracked gas, as agreed in the Programme for Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will ensure that fracked gas imports, not only from the US but from Northern Ireland, does not enter this State. A ban on LNG terminals would have the effect of banning both types of gas, conventional and unconventional.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s High Court decision has reaffirmed campaigners\u2019 position that planning permission should never have been given to Shannon LNG as the environmental assessment was not legally or properly completed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Programme for Government agreed in June of this year by the coalition partners affirmed it did not support the importation of fracked gas and would develop a policy statement on this issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cA ban on the importation of fracked gas would also send a clear message that Ireland will not be a market for fracked gas from Northern Ireland, where two companies have applied for petroleum licences to frack.<\/p>\n
“I want to commend all the activists who have tirelessly campaigned for over a decade on this issue. It brings a close to a long and drawn-out struggle that will provide a foundation for Ireland to progress its climate action goals and obligations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have put in questions to the Minister for Climate Action on this issue and I hope there will be a D\u00e1il debate on the implications of the High Court decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
November 9, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Social Democrats spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has called on the Government to legislate for a ban on imported fracked gas following today\u2019s High Court decision to quash all permissions for Shannon LNG. Deputy Whitmore said: \u201cAfter a 13-year battle, Shannon LNG has lost all permissions to build its fracked gas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1230,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[268,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jennifer-whitmore","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n