Sir, - I am writing regarding Ronan McGreevy’s article on “Ireland ‘seriously considering’ importing fracked US gas for LNG reserve in Clare” (News, September 14th).
McGreevy writes that the proposed LNG terminal “will operate as an emergency reserve in the event of a major disruption to the natural gas pipelines from the UK”. However, nowhere in the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Act is there any definition of the “emergency” that would warrant the use of the terminal, nor is there any mechanism to prevent the terminal increasing Ireland’s gas demand and consumption.
It seems the “emergency” this terminal is being built for is a planned increase in gas consumption by data centres beyond our current gas import capabilities, not a major disruption to the natural gas pipelines from the UK.
Fracking is indeed a practice contrary to many countries’ climate policies, including Ireland’s, and US fracked gas in the form of LNG produces 33 per cent higher greenhouse gas emissions than coal. However, McGreevy fails to mention the public health impacts of fracking in the US, including its links to respiratory diseases, cancer and reproductive issues.
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The UN recently announced that we have missed the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees and called for immediate and urgent action if a return to this level of warming is to be kept alive. In light of this, it is extremely concerning that Irish leaders are allegedly discussing a “long-term supply relationship” for LNG with the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico, an association who finished their statement on the meetings with Irish leaders with the line: “The world doesn’t need less natural gas - it needs more of it, from reliable partners who can deliver. New Mexico is that partner.” - Yours, etc,
SAM MORAN,
Co Sligo.
