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. 7:
In page 10, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following:
" Gas demand
5 . (1) The Minister shall ensure that a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve established under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning does not lead to an increase in gas demand.
(2) The Minister, within 12 months of the commencement of this Act, shall lay an annual report before both Houses of the Oireachtas which demonstrates that the Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve established under this Act and all future Acts relating to its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning is not leading to an increase in gas demand.".
This amendment relates to the increase of gas demand. This amendment relates to the reserve and security of supply so that it is not going to be for outside vested interests when it comes to gas consumption. This amendment requires the Minister to demonstrate annually that the reserve is not driving greater dependence on fossil fuels. The Minister knows that we have an okay, if not good, track record in this country so far in trying to come off fossil fuels. We have used an awful lot of initiatives. It would be nice to know that this does not push us backwards from where we are at the moment.

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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