Sir, – A business acquaintance was travelling through Germany recently on the river Rhine. He sent me photographs of barges laden with coal destined for huge coal-fired power stations.
He asked a fair question: “Why did we feel that in Ireland we had to close down our small turf burning power stations?” The answer, of course, is that we were in a rush to be “the best boy in the class” in the race to achieve insanely high “net zero targets” in no time at all.
We need to remind ourselves that Ireland and indeed the EU as a whole are minor offenders when it comes to global emissions. The EU has been pivoting toward renewable energy aiming to reduce dependence on fossil fuels rather than a total, immediate ban.
We went a step further and decided to abandon oil and gas exploration entirely due to pressure from the Green Party. This move will cost us dearly in terms of future energy security. The Middle East crisis is only the latest to affect energy supplies since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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In a courageous turnaround, Britain is likely to recommence oil and gas exploration, Norway has never stopped. This will not reduce the price of fossil fuels but will provide energy security and in a worst-case scenario may obviate rationing. Time for Ireland to be courageous and wake up. Time to recommence drilling.
DANIEL SMITH
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – At last, an opinion writer in The Irish Times who advocates getting the proposed LNG plant up and running as soon as possible (John McManus, “We could do with a national gas reserve right now. Pity we don’t have one”, April 1st). Contrast his realistic article with those of columnist John FitzGerald (“Ireland was too slow on EVs and retrofitting. Now it’s costing consumers”, March 16th; “Learning from the 1970s oil shock”, March 30th), who advocates decarbonisation. Grand. But, tell that to the 400,000 homeowners reliant on oil central heating, to the motorists worried about the prices at the pumps, to the road hauliers exporting our goods and indeed to the European road hauliers importing our food, Easter eggs, etc who have to refuel here and try to get a backload before returning to Europe.
Besides an urgent LNG plant, we need to develop the Barryroe oil and gas field off the Cork coast. This will make us more energy independent. It was the then minister Eamon Ryan who refused to sign the permit for its development in 2023. Now we are caught out. I hope John McManus’s next article will be about Barryroe. – Yours, etc,
JOHN McKEOWN
Waterford.
Sir, – In north Kerry, an application for an LNG terminal was first made to An Bord Pleanála in 2006, 20 years ago. Today we are still waiting to hear from An Coimisiún Pleanála in relation to the current application.
In Kerry we have to apply to An Coimisiún Pleanála for permission, but in Clare the same application is going to be fast-tracked through the planning process.
in Kerry, should permission be granted, the construction can begin immediately, but in Clare it would take up to five years to start construction,
Why would the State spend €1 billion to build a terminal in Clare which will take five years when a private company will construct one in Kerry immediately if planning permission is granted? – Yours, etc,
NOEL LYNCH
Chairman,
Ballylongford Enterprise Association,
Co Kerry.
