Friends of the Earth warns Government’s proposed LNG scheme risks undermining climate law, democratic safeguards and genuine energy security

Friends of the Earth has warned that the Government’s proposed LNG scheme risks undermining climate law, democratic safeguards and genuine energy security. Speaking to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy regarding the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Government’s General Scheme of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025, Friends of the Earth said the proposal would lock Ireland into long-term fossil fuel dependence at a time when resilience and climate compliance are essential.

Deirdre Duffy, CEO of Friends of the Earth, said:

"Energy security that weakens climate law and democratic safeguards is not security,  it is a liability. This proposed bill sidelines democratic legitimacy by concentrating ministerial power and bypassing established planning processes essential to public trust.

The proposed bill’s most serious flaw is its approach to climate governance. It essentially states that the facility is compliant in advance regardless of how much polluting emissions it actually produces. However compliance must be proven through real, evidence-based assessment and public participation."

Jerry Mac Evilly, Policy Director in Friends of the Earth, added:

"If the Government genuinely viewed the current situation as an emergency, it would have prioritised stopping the problem from getting worse. Instead, it has facilitated rapid data-centre expansion, now the single largest driver of new gas demand.

We urge the Committee to recommend that the Government not proceed with this Bill. Instead, the Government should undertake an updated energy security assessment that properly considers demand-side measures, renewables, and risks of increased LNG dependence."

Notes:

See Friends of the Earth’s statement and submission here: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/publications/our-submission-on-the-pre-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-propos/ 

See General Scheme here - https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/34/joint_committee_on_climate_environment_and_energy/submissions/2026/2026-01-22_general-scheme-of-the-strategic-gas-emergency-reserve-bill-2025_en.pdf The Minister originally called on the Committee to forgo pre-legislative scrutiny, however this was rejected by the Committee.