The Government must consider all alternative ways of delivering energy security before locking the State into costly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, made her comments as the Dáil debated the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026 at second stage today.
She said:
“A decision of this magnitude should only be made after a full comparison of all available options.
“To date, energy security reviews have not fully or comprehensively assessed alternatives such as battery storage, accelerated renewable deployment, expanded interconnection, emergency demand reduction measures or alternative fuels.
“One of the key reviews primarily focused on whether a facility at Shannon Estuary should be commercial or State-owned. That is not the same as examining if LNG is necessary in the first place. The Government should not be relying on such narrowly scoped reviews to justify a major strategic investment.
“One of my amendments to the Bill would require the minister to undertake a comprehensive energy security review before the Act comes into force. This would ensure that all options are fully assessed and presented to the Oireachtas before such a significant decision is made.
“Weaknesses in our energy system did not just appear overnight – they are the result of decades of failures by successive governments. These include delays to offshore wind development; insufficient investment in solar; stalled interconnectors; slow progress on battery storage; and poor planning around growing energy demand.
“If the Government proceeds with a strategic gas reserve, there must be clear legislative safeguards. Another of my amendments would provide that such a facility is explicitly State-led, State-owned and non-commercial. As the Government is claiming that its purpose is emergency energy security rather than commercial gas imports, that needs to be written into law.
“LNG is financially expensive and environmentally consequential. It is not enough to say that Ireland needs greater energy security – we all accept that. The real question is whether LNG is the most effective, affordable and logical way to achieve it.
“Until all alternatives have been examined and presented transparently, that case has not been made. Before locking Ireland into decades of LNG infrastructure, the Government needs to demonstrate that every other viable option has been carefully considered.
“The people of Ireland deserve evidence-based decision-making when it comes to energy security – not shortcuts that will only compound our reliance on fossil fuels.”
June 25, 2026