3 February 2021 14:07 GMT Updated 8 February 2021 18:31 GMT in London
Ireland s oil and gas industry has welcomed a decision by the nation’s government to exclude current oil and gas licences from a new legislative ban on future exploration and extraction.
Environment Minister Eamon Ryan obtained cabinet approval to introduce the legislation, which will be included in the Climate Action & Low Carbon Amendment Bill that is set to go before the Irish parliament on Wednesday.
Green Party leader Ryan said: The decision we have made today to legislate for a ban on new oil exploration and extraction will send a powerful message, within Ireland and internationally, that Ireland is moving away from fossil fuels towards a renewable future.
);
The Irish Offshore Operators’ Association welcomed the decision to honour existing licences. By Adam Daly Tuesday 2 Feb 2021, 4:22 PM Feb 2nd 2021, 4:22 PM 13,931 Views 58 Comments
Image: PA
Image: PA
CABINET HAS APPROVED the introduction of legislation to ban new licenses for oil and gas exploration, however, existing licences issued by the State will still be honoured under proposed plans.
Minister for Transport, Environment and Climate Eamon Ryan is hoping to bring about this change by adding a provision to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Amendment Bill which will go before the Oireachtas shortly.
Existing authorisations for exploration will remain in place and applications and activities, “remaining subject to technical, financial, and environmental assessments as appropriate,” according to the Departm
Ireland faces increased threats to energy supplies since Brexit Corrib field now the State’s sole domestic source of natural gas
Fri, Jan 15, 2021, 07:00
Ireland faces increased threats to energy supplies as Brexit cuts our links with Europe’s gas and electricity networks, a report published on Friday warns.
The Irish Offshore Operators’ Association (IOOA), which represents licensed oil and gas explorers in the Republic’s waters, points out in its energy review 2021, that the Corrib field is now the State’s sole domestic source of natural gas, used to produce much of Ireland’s electricity.
The association notes that since its last r¼eport in 2016, “the risks of potential interruption to Ireland’s energy supply have increased significantly”.
Ireland’s energy supply is at risk of being “doubly disconnected” due to Brexit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been warned. The claim came from the Irish Offshore Operators’ Association (IOOA) in a letter to Mr Martin at the end of November.
The Programme for Government commits to a ban on new exploration for oil and gas off Ireland’s coast as part of efforts to fight climate change.
Mandy Johnston, chief executive of the IOOA, told Mr Martin: “In the case of any future gas supply emergency disruption, the UK will no longer be bound by current EU obligations to provide ‘solidarity’. It is our fear that Ireland is on the verge of being doubly disconnected, first from indigenous supply and then by Brexit.”