Call to explore potential of extending Mayo's Corrib Gas Field

The government has been asked to explore the prospect of extending Mayo's Corrib Gas Field.

The site, off the Belmullet coastline, currently produces 40% of Ireland's gas supply.

Senator Tim Lombard said the matter needs to be examined in the context of considering the country's energy security and where Ireland fits into it with its own energy security policy.

The Fine Gael representative stated: "Is it appropriate or logical for us to be importing oil or gas from Russia? Is that going to be our long-term aim?

"We all know there is a renewable policy, but that will not deliver in time for where we are at the moment. We have our own natural resources.

"We have natural resources off the coast of west Cork in the Barryroe oil field that has not been exploited.

"A terminal is being proposed for Ballylongford in County Limerick, which is also an important part of the ethos of Ireland.

"When natural gas is brought in, it is regarded as a transition fuel between now and 2050.

"There is also the potential to extend that gas field currently in operation in County Mayo that produces 40% of our gas.

"We need to have a comprehensive debate on how we are going to ensure we can be self-sufficient as possible when it comes to gas and oil going forward to reach our demands between now and 2050.

"It is not appropriate for us to put our hands up now and say that we will keep it going by using renewables.

"Renewables are part of that process, but they will not feed us going forward. We are in a new world and regime.

"We have seen how the war over the last 16 days has had a huge impact on oil and gas prices. That is going to be a huge issue for our society.

"We need to have a real change in policy when it comes to oil and gas in this country.

"We need to exploit whatever resources we have until we get our renewables set up.

"That will present very hard choices for some people. Those choices involve, hopefully, deciding to build an LNG terminal and trying to exploit whatever resources we have to make sure we are self-sufficient."

Speaking on the matter, Transport Minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan stated: "Ireland sources roughly one-quarter of its gas from the Corrib gas field, and three-quarters via interconnector from the UK, which has diverse sources of supply.

"Both the UK and Ireland both have far less reliance on Russian gas than other European Countries.

The UK’s gas supply comes from indigenous supplies, via pipelines from Norway, interconnectors with Belgium and the Netherlands and through imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

"As production from the Corrib gas field declines, our import dependence on natural gas from the UK will increase in the near term.

"In light of the Ukraine crisis, the European Commission is working closely with Member States to protect the resilience of Europe’s gas supply.

"The Commission is also actively engaging with other countries to ensure sufficient and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse sources across the globe to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result from disruptions.

"It is essential that we cut our dependence on imported fossil fuels, and power comes from our own indigenous renewable resources including wind and solar.

"Climate Action Plan 2021 sets an ambitious target to increase the share of electricity demand generated from renewables sources to up-to 80% by 2030."