‘Where do you stand on LNG plan, Minister?’

LOCAL supporters of Shannon LNG say they are ‘disappointed’ that the Minister for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin has failed to signal where he stands on the issue of the increasingly contentious gas project.

Its future is now on a knife-edge, with the abandonment of the plant a key demand of the Green Party under the negotiations for government.

Their demand appears to have been met thus far with an open mind by the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leaders, despite the fact that it was Micheál Martin who first announced the Shannon LNG project as then Enterprise Minister back in 2006.

As the Green agenda gains greater acceptance across the two main parties – despite numerous concerns among many individual backbenchers of those parties – locals in Tarbert and Ballylongford grow ever more worried.

In the era of the pandemic they say the jobs the plant would augur would make the difference between life and death for their long-struggling communities, and form a solid basis for the beginning of industry on a landbank long zoned for it.

They have called on all politicians to come out and publicly back the plan. But there is one politician above all whose support they seek – the constituency’s sole minister, Brendan Griffin.

But despite writing to Minister Griffin a fortnight ago, they say they have received no response. The Kerryman also failed to reach Minister Griffin for comment on the matter, despite a number of attempts to contact him.

“At a virtual meeting held today by the Ballylongford-Tarbert Liaison Group, consisting of reps of the above, Kilcolgan residents and Shannon Estuary Business Alliance, disappointment was expressed that there has not been a response from you in relation to the Shannon LNG project,” the group wrote in its letter, continuing:

“We are concerned that this vital project may be abandoned by the two big parties who are likely to form the new government, and that the commitment freely given by FF and FG Leaders during the election last February may be forgotten.

“As the only government minister in our constituency we believe that your public support is vital if this project is to proceed. We would appreciate it if you would let us know where you stand regarding support for this project. We would also be obliged if you would confirm that you would be prepared to meet with us to discuss this project, which is so vital to the future of North Kerry.

“Such is our concern that we will meet you anywhere in North Kerry,” they concluded.

That letter was sent over a fortnight ago. One of its authors, Ballylongford Enterprise Company chairperson Noel Lynch said he was disappointed not to have heard yet from the Minister, while praising the support of his party colleagues Cllrs Jim Finucane and Michael Foley – each from the area – for their unequivocal stance.

“It’s certainly disappointing, particularly when we saw Patrick O’Donovan on The Week in Politics saying that we need an independent source of gas once the Corrib is gone in five years’ time and we end up completely dependent on the UK.

“What’s astonishing to us is the support we are getting from the Mayor of Tralee Jim Finucane and local councillor Michael Foley. They are really pushing this project for us, but certainly we are very disappointed Minister Griffin is not coming out publicly on it,” Noel added.

Kerry County Council meanwhile backed Jim Finucane’s proposal to ‘fully endorse and support’ the plan.

Minister Brendan Griffin