‘Betrayed’
Government deal death knell for Shannon LNG project Backers lash representatives
THE decision by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to sacrifice the long awaited Shannon LNG project to secure a coalition deal with the Green Party has been greeted with dismay and anger across north Kerry.
Backers of the plan in Ballylongford and Tarbert have accused the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leadership of outright ‘ betrayal’, while several councillors from both parties have said they will not support the coalition deal if it means the end of the Shannon LNG project.
Cathaoirleach of Listowel Municipal District, Fianna Fáil Cllr Jimmy Moloney, said the loss of the project will deny vital jobs and hinder growth in a region “completely ignored” by successive governments.
Fine Gael Mayor of Tralee Cllr Jim Finucane said the news was a ‘dark day’ for the entire region, while his party colleague Ballylongford based Cllr Michael Foley labelled it a ‘disaster’ for Kerry.
All three councillors have firmly ruled out backing the historic coalition deal if the Shannon LNG project is dropped.
The B ally long ford, Tar bert and Kil col gan Development Group said they had been betrayed by Michael Martin and Leo Varadkar.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil made promises to us before the election, which they have now broken. They have betrayed us. This is a devastating blow to North Kerry,” said the group’s Joint Chairman Noel Lynch.
Mr Lynch said the group is also very worried about the implications on efforts to attract other investors.
“The backers of the LNG project were encouraged by successive Governments to invest more than €70 million in the project. They have effectively been thrown under the bus. Who is going to invest in the Shannon region now, after how these investors were misled?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, the Kerry branch of the Green Party has reiterated its opposition to the Shannon LNG project and said that north Kerry “needs a better form of job creation”.
THE decision by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to sacrifice the long awaited Shannon LNG project to secure a coalition with the Green Party has caused dismay across north Kerry.
Backers of the plan in Ballylongford and Tarbert accused the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leadership of outright ‘ betrayal’ while councillors from both parties have said they will not support the coalition deal if it means the end of the Shannon LNG project.
Fine Gael Mayor of Tralee Cllr Jim Finucane said the decision was “a dark day for Kerry and the entire region.”
Cllr Finucane – who previously said a coalition deal with the Greens was ‘fraught with danger’ – said that he cannot support the coalition proposal if Shannon LNG is not going ahead adding that it should never have formed part of the Government negotiations.
Ballylongford based Fine Gael Councillor Michael Foley labelled the LNG decision a ‘disaster’ for Kerry and said he cannot support the coalition deal.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly – who is backing the coalition deal – said he believes it’s is a mistake to scrap the Shannon LNG plan. Mr Kelly said it is imperative that a comprehensive plan to bring jobs to north Kerry is set out in the next 12 months.
The news has also been greeted with shock and anger among local Fianna Fáil councillors.
Fianna Fáil Cathaoirleach of the Listowel Municipal District Cllr Jimmy Moloney said “there is absolutely no way” he will support a Programme for Government that abandons the LNG plan.
“This project, which has been in the development stage for a number of years, is of vital importance to North Kerry. Its exclusion from any proposed Programme for Government will not only deny much needed employment to a region completely ignored by successive governments, it will also hinder both the region and the country’s future development,” he said.
“I recognise that Ireland has to make the move away from fossil fuels, but we also have to be realistic. We need a secure energy supply to make this transition and the Shannon LNG project provides this security. The only justification provided to date for the blocking of this project has been that the facility will be used to store fracked gas. Yet the basis for this concern is nowhere to be found in the planning documents. I ask why is it be used to block this project and prevent the creation of badly-needed employment and development opportunities in North Kerry?” he said.
The loss of the project has also been highlighted by a group of Fianna Fáil councillors and activists who oppose the coalition deal.
The ‘Fairer Future’ grassroots group was launched online on Monday evening and has already attracted over 50 councillors – including Kerry’s John Francis Flynn – and 1,000 Fianna Fáil party members to its campaign against the proposed Programme for Government.
Meanwhile, Kerry Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly said an opportunity to create jobs and provide cheaper energy has been lost thanks to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Locally news that the long awaited project has been sacrificed has been greeted with shock and anger.
The Ballylongford, Tarbert and Kilcolgan, Development Group said they had been betrayed by Michael Martin and Leo Varadkar.
“The LNG project was launched in 2006 by Michael Martin. He has supported the project all through the last fourteen years, until now,” said the group’s Joint Chairman Noel Lynch.
“Prior to the election, in February of this year, flanked by the Kerry Dáil candidates he again spoke of his support for the LNG project. He promised that if he was part of the next Government he would ensure that the project would have the full support of that government,” said Mr Lynch.
“Our Taoiseach, within the past twelve months, has told the Dáil that he supports the LNG project and that Ireland needed it. The Attorney General’s office has informed the Government that if we do not build an LNG terminal we are liable to be fined by Europe for not having an alternative supply of energy,” he said.
Mr Lynch was also highly critical of the influence the Green Party have wielded over the
Programme for Government.
“How can a party with only seven per cent of the vote dictate government policy, causing them to break such significant promises?” he asked.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil made promises to us before the last election, which they have now broken. They have betrayed us. This is a devastating blow to North Kerry,” said Mr Lynch.
He also questioned what the decision will mean for the future development of the region.
“The backers of the LNG project were encouraged by successive Governments to invest more that seventy million Euros in the project. They have effectively been thrown under the bus and told to get out. Who is going to invest in the Shannon region now, after how these investors were misled?” he said.
The Kerry branch of the Green Party has reiterated their opposition to the Shannon LNG project saying that north Kerry “needs a better form of job creation.”
Tralee Green Party representative Anne-Marie Fuller described the Programme for Government as a “good foundation” for progress and a good programme for rural Ireland.