Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-16
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Nessa Cosgrove (LAB), Labour Panel

I am sorry but I just do not buy the argument that it is security. A floating LNG storage facility in Qatar was blown up. It is actually more of a risk to our security to have a floating LNG terminal.
This whole thing is mad. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Predator Oil and Gas, publicly said 12 months ago that he would not live near an LNG terminal. He said, “Accidents can happen, so keeping facilities well out of the reach of habitation is vital”. He went on to say, "There’s like a one-in-1,000 chance perhaps of an accident happening, but when an accident does happen [ - he did not even say if - ] it would be catastrophic".
As for the idea that this is about some kind of energy security, it is not. It is actually the opposite. It is a real threat to our security. Why do we have two Bill? Why are we debating this Bill and then having to debate another one? It does not make any sense. I cannot understand it. This is a Trojan horse being railroaded through. I cannot understand why we would want to have two Bills on the very same thing. Why is the operation of the facility not included in this legislation? Why can the amendments not be accepted? That would be it sorted. I do not understand.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:17+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-16