Government needs to be “straight up” on fracked US gas, says Ahern

Labour’s climate spokesperson Ciarán Ahern has hit out at reports that Ireland is “seriously considering” importing fracked US gas for the government’s LNG reserve in Clare.

The Dublin South-West TD said he is calling for publication of all correspondence on the matter.

Ahern remarked that while Trump “threw some crumbs Ireland’s way with whiskey tariffs, the big prize he secured was a commitment from Ireland to import US fracked gas.”

The Labour TD said “Trump, his sons and their entourage spent their time here talking up US fracked gas to anyone who would listen. Less than 24 hours after Trump leaves the country, we now get confirmation that the state now wants to import US fracked gas.”

“I am calling on government to be straight up with the people of Ireland and publish any and all correspondence on any commitments made to the US on importing its fracked gas,” he said.

Ahern noted, “the removal of the US tariff on Irish whiskey is welcome for Irish producers and workers, but this concession should not be traded for fossil fuels. Irish whiskey cannot be used as a bargaining chip for American fossil fuels.”

“The shameful lack of political will when it comes to climate action from this government is now on show to the entire globe,” he said.

Labour TD Ciáran Ahern speaking at the anti-Trump protest

“At a time when we should be focused on developing secure, affordable renewable energy, this government has overturned a ban on fracked gas. Trump’s administration will be the first to benefit from this – the same President who refers to climate change as a “hoax,” Ahern warned.

Ahern stated, “the battle against climate change is a global effort, but this government is failing to play its part. That these concessions on imported US fracked gas could happen during Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency is even more embarrassing.”

“The climate crisis should have been top of the agenda for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Instead, their focus is on further embedding and accelerating the neoliberal economic order which has driven so much of the harm that’s been done to our environments, ecosystems and climate,” he said.

The Labour climate spokesperson said, “the government should focus on weaning this country off its over-reliance on fossil fuels, on new inter-connectors, on renewables, battery storage, grids and efficiency, not exposing Ireland to long-term dependence on imported fossil fuels.”