Love Leitrim express concern over possible government Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal u-turn

Anti fracking community group Love Leitrim have expressed their deep worry and concern following weekend reports in the national media that the Green Party minister Eamon Ryan and the government are considering a major u-turn in relation to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals.

Love Leitrim notes that it was reported in the Sunday Business Post that the Minister has acknowledged that Ireland may need to build an LNG terminal, thereby reversing a key Green Party policy, because the "world changed "when the Nordstream gas pipelines were damaged last year. 

The Minister had previously stated his opposition to this type of commercial project, such as the one that was proposed in the Shannon Estuary but Love Leitrim says it now appears that his and the government's position could change. 

This comes ahead of the publication of an energy security review and the visit of US President, Joe Biden.

Love Leitrim says there have been long-held fears by communities on both sides of the Atlantic that LNG import terminals will essentially result in the importation of fracked gas from impacted American communities.

The group says point to the negative climate impact of fracking/fracked gas noting numerous studies which say fracked gas is worse than coal.

The process of fracking was banned in Ireland in 2017 after a long-term community campaign by groups like Love Leitrim. 

Love Leitrim Chairperson, Jamie Murphy, explained “If these reports are accurate then we are in a very worrying situation. We as a country banned fracking in 2017 on the basis of its impact on the climate, communities, water, and air amongst many other reasons.

"Those arguments still very much stand and we as a country should not be even considering the development of LNG/Fracked gas terminals. They import one of the worst fossil fuels in terms of its impact on the climate, not to mention the negative impact it has communities in the United States.

"If fracked gas was unsafe enough for us to ban it then it’s morally and ethically wrong to import it from another community. As President Biden visits this week, like many others we have been optimistic about a President with Irish roots in the White House. However, we are also alarmed that he has issued more oil and gas permits to the fossil fuel industry than his predecessor. We are looking to our children’s future, we are looking at those in impacted communities.

"We would urge Minister Ryan and the government to hold firm on their previous opposition to fracked gas/LNG terminals and to raise the issue of the continued expansion of the fossil fuel industry in the United Stars with President Biden. There is too much at stake not to."