'We will oppose this with vigour': Leitrim Co Council calls for reversal of fracked gas policy

The latest Council meeting revealed that the Government have altered their policy regarding the importation of fracked gas into Ireland.

Cllr Eddie Mitchell called on the Council to write to Minister Éamon Ryan expressing deep concern and disappointment with Government plans to build a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve in Ireland in the form of a fracked gas import terminal.

Cllr Mitchell requested the Council ask Minister Ryan to change the policy and instead ban liquified natural gas terminals in line with the May 2021 Policy Statement on Importation of Fracked Gas.

“I’m glad to bring forward this motion with councillor support from Fermanagh. Both Leitrim and Fermanagh have been fighting for years to keep fracking out. 

“Everybody here has played a role in that and I recognise the leading roles that have been played in this campaign,” Cllr Mitchell said.

“The situation we thought we were in has changed. There was a policy to keep fracked gas imports out of Ireland and that’s very important for us here in Leitrim.

“The Government was formed in many ways on a basis back then that if Éamon Ryan got into Government he would commit to stopping fracked gas and that did happen,” Cllr Mitchell said.

In May 2021, a policy statement declared that liquified natural gas terminals would be banned in order to prevent the importation of fracked gas into Ireland. This policy was introduced in response to a planning application for a terminal in the Shannon Estuary, and the ban effectively blocked the project.

In November 2023, the Government reversed that policy.

“What I’m asking is for the Council to write to Eamon Ryan and ask to revert back to the policy. It’s the only way the Attorney General has said we can keep fracked gas out of Ireland,” Cllr Mitchell added.

Cllr Bohan told the Council that a number of years ago she attended a meeting with speakers from all over the world on the effects of fracking.

“Particularly from America, they were able to show us the effect fracking has on their communities and it destroyed them completely. A lot of work has been put into this and we cannot be seen to be using fracked gas and we must oppose it,” she commented.

“We spent years working on this and were strongly supported by every Oireachtas member and we were very happy when our TDs tabled a motion for the Dáil which was passed and agreed to ban fracking. 

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“I don’t think we should do anything that would change that,” Cllr Bohan stressed.

“It could open a door and we’d be back to where we were ten years ago. We have to stand square behind this,” added Cllr Warnock.

“It’s important this local authority sends a clear message to the Minister and let them know we will oppose this with the vigour we opposed it previously,” Cllr Fallon said.

Cllr Enda McGloin voiced his concerns on Ireland’s energy security, particularly the risk of facing shortages in electricity and energy.

“We are reducing our reliance and are looking towards wind and solar but we still have a situation of short-term. In a case of emergency where we have terms of shortage of gas and electricity, it would take a couple years to build,” Cllr McGloin said.

“One of the issues in getting jobs and investment in this country is sufficient supply of electricity, power and energy. We have to be sure this country has no short term issues regarding energy. 

“We have to work towards long-term to get away from fossil fuels which takes a considerable amount of time,” he concluded.

Cllr Mitchell’s motion received unanimous support across the assembly.

“The very fact is and it's clearly been stated by Éamon Ryan and everyone in the Dáil that the terminal will be used,” Cllr Mitchell stressed.

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“There isn’t a grey area here. If we lose the argument on fracked gas getting into the energy mix we really put ourselves in danger,” he concluded.