Local MEP warns Louth households will face the effects of Middle-East conflict

MEP Nina Carberry has warned that households in Louth will feel the full effects of the ongoing conflict in the the Middle East as gas prices continue to rise. 

Ms Carberry called on the European Commission’s Gas Coordination Group, to activate its crisis protocol and increase EU-wide joint purchasing of gas from a wider range of countries.

It comes as European gas prices have surged by as much as 45% after Qatar stopped Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) production.

The Midlands North-West MEP said that families and businesses in Louth will feel the effects as much of the county is primarily dependent on gas or oil. 

"With the crisis in the Middle East escalating, we have seen how quickly international events can have consequences at home."

“Families and businesses will feel this. More than 70% of households across Meath and Louth are primarily dependent on gas or oil – and that is why I am calling on the Commission to trigger its crisis protocol," she said.

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Ms Carberry called on the European Commission to act with the same level of urgency as it did when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. 

She said the European Commission "must immediately look at increasing the joint purchasing of gas at the EU level from other partners". 

"It also means, in the long term, looking at expanding gas storage, and having faster rollout of anaerobic digestion plants and renewables," she said. 

Carberry also warned of knock-on effects on gas prices for fertiliser costs, which are already at record highs, and has requested an update from the EU Fertilisers Market Observatory on price increases.