Shock at LNG loss in Govt deal

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 coucnillors have firmly ruled out backing the historic coalition deal if the

Shannon LNG project is dropped.

The Ballylongford, Tarbert and Kilcolgan 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 are 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 said.

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.”