Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-16
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Joanne Collins (SF), Agricultural Panel

I move amendment No. 5:
In page 10, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:
“ Expenses
4 . (1) The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure,Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
(2) The expenses to establish a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning will not be socialised across household and SME energy bills.
(3) The Minister must mandate that the CRU carries out an assessment on the impact of the expenses incurred on household bills under this Act and all future Acts relating to construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve.”.
I will keep this very brief. This amendment is around the cost of this facility not being passed on to households. At a time when bills are so high for energy in this country it is something about which we seek an amendment. The amendment protects consumers from footing the bill for this facility. Families and small businesses are already under enough pressure from high energy costs. Before any costs are imposed, the CRU should assess the impact and ensure that these expenses are not simply added to electricity and gas bills for the public.

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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