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 move amendment No. 3:
In page 8, after line 39, to insert the following:
" "hydraulically fractured gas" means liquefied natural gas, or natural gas in any other form, that has been produced, in whole or in part, by means of hydraulic fracturing within the meaning of section 5A of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960;".
A definition of fracked gas or hydraulically fractured gas is required to accompany a reiteration of the ban that was introduced on fracked gas and which is necessary to protect our environment. We banned the fracking of gas in this jurisdiction on health grounds and environment grounds for the good but if we allow imported fracked gas to be used, we will be hypocrites. It is wrong that it is fine for us to ban it here but it is fine for us then to import it. It is not right.
The amendment defines "fracked gas", which does not appear anywhere in the Bill. This, with amendment No. 13, would make clear that the importation of fracked gas would not be possible under the Bill. LNG particularly when sourced in the US, is usually derived from fracking. In Pennsylvania, we can see the devastating consequences, not only environmental consequences but health consequences as well. This is why we have included a definition of "hydraulically fractured gas" as meaning "liquefied natural gas, or natural gas in any other form, that has been produced, in whole or in part, by means of hydraulic fracturing within the meaning of section 5A of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960". That Act defines hydraulic fracturing and, after amendment in 2017, banned the practice of fracking in Ireland. Unfortunately, it did not ban the importation of fracked gas.
As I said earlier, it was a brave move banning fracked gas in Ireland at the time. As I said about former Deputy, Tony McLoughlin, in fairness, he did a lot of work up in our area. Deputy Scanlon did as well. They did a lot of work in the area.
Subsequent Government policy introducing a de facto ban on the importation of fracked gas will be overturned to develop this LNG facility. It is definitely hypocritical for us to say that it is grand for us to import it, that we do not want to have it here ourselves but it is grand for us that other countries can have the damage of fracking and then we will import it.
I hope the Minister of State will consider those amendments.

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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