Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-07
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

I thank all the Senators for their contributions today. Certainly, as has been noted throughout the debate, especially on the Government side of the House, there is an urgent requirement to take action to mitigate this critical risk to Ireland's energy security. As I said earlier, the main purpose of this Bill is to provide for a project-specific bespoke consenting pathway for the strategic gas emergency reserve facility that will be located in County Clare. This will enable the development consent application to be submitted later this year, which is critical in achieving an accelerated delivery of this project.
As referenced by Senators Duffy and Clifford-Lee, we are a small island nation that is very reliant on interconnectors. Our exposure to potential disruption of gas supply presents a really significant risk to energy security. I was shocked it was not referenced by anyone on the Opposition benches that the real purpose of this Bill is to ensure we have sufficient supply to protect households and business consumers in the event of major disruption of our subsea pipelines, which account for over 80% of all gas supply into this country. It is very important we have continuity of supply for businesses and householders across the country. This strategic gas reserve will provide the alternative source of gas at an appropriate scale. If Ireland were to experience such devastating interruptions, I am sure the Senators would be coming into this House calling foul that Government had done nothing. This Bill is very much focused on delivering an emergency reserve. It is critical for Ireland's energy security.
The strategic gas energy reserve is a priority project of a real and strategic nature that is required to mitigate any major consequences. I am confident the legislation before the House today will provide the robust consenting process that will enable the project to proceed at an expedited pace. For far too long, we have been held back in major developments across major projects. We have done major reforms through the planning and development Bill and with An Coimisiún Pleanála. We now need to move forward with the Critical Infrastructure Act to enable Ireland to deliver critical projects of real strategic importance, and this is one of them.
I acknowledge and appreciate the significant work of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate, Energy and the Environment, which conducted pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Bill. I also thank the Attorney General's office and all the officials and stakeholders, as well as all the Senators for their contributions today. We look forward to discussing the Bill further on Committee Stage.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-07/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-07