Demands for Ryan to publish report

ENVIRONMENT Minister Eamon Ryan has come under renewed pressure to publish a long-awaited review of Ireland’s energy security.

Last week the Irish Mail on Sunday revealed the Green Party leader was advised by his officials more than two years ago to review the security of Ireland’s energy supplies.

Mr Ryan was first informed about the threat to Ireland’s electricity supplies in a briefing document presented to him on his first day in the office.

Under a heading titled ‘Review of Security of Supply’, civil servants at the Department of the Environment told him, ‘Given the increased dependence of Ireland’s electricity system on the supply of natural gas in the period to 2030 and the increased dependence of those supplies on imports from a single source, it is considered an appropriate time to review the security of energy supply of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems.’

However, this review did not get underway for almost a year later when, in May 2021, London-based consultants CEPA were commissioned to carry out the analysis.

More than a year later, the findings of the security review ordered by Mr Ryan have yet to be published and presented to the Government.

In parliamentary queries, independent TD Carol Nolan increased the pressure on Mr Ryan, demanding he immediately publishes the CEPA report.

Responding to Ms Nolan, he said: ‘As set out in the National Energy Security Framework published in April 2022, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is carrying out a review of the energy security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems – for delivery in

Q3 2022.’

He justified the delay on the grounds that the analysis had to be updated to reflect changing circumstances following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, Ms Nolan hit back, saying, ‘The crisis in Ukraine is now well past its 100th day. Surely this has provided ample time for the ramifications this will have for Ireland’s and indeed Europe’s energy sector to become more than apparent?’

The minister also came in for criticism from Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey over the delay is publishing the review.

Mr Markey said: ‘Minister Ryan might not like some of the recommendations in this review, but the energy security of our country is far more important than ideological green policies.

‘The situation was already serious but has become far more urgent given the war in Ukraine.’