Natural gas supply to Limerick
After Amgas withdrew, the Minister directed Bord Gáis to resume negotiations with Limerick Corporation and said proposals might soon be submitted; negotiations were proceeding with Bord Gáis potentially taking a majority stake. Reynolds criticized the delay and suggested majority ownership signalled nationalisation, while Collins affirmed support for Limerick; the Chair ruled one intervention was not a question.
asked the Minister for Energy, in view of the withdrawal of Amgas from a consortium to supply gas to Limerick, if he will indicate his plans to ensure that natural gas will be brought to Limerick with minimum further delay.
Comment on this
Following Amgas's decision to withdraw from the negotiations on the Limerick gas project, I instructed Bord Gáis Éireann to continue negotiations with Limerick Corporation on a supply agreement. I understand that these negotiations have been re-opened and that proposals may be put to me shortly. The House will appreciate that I am not in a position to predict the outcome until proposals have been considered by me and put to the Government.
Comment on this
Is it the Minister's intention that Bord Gáis should acquire the majority stake in the new company which possibly will own Limerick Gas?
Comment on this
Does the Minister agree that this is the second step on the road to the nationalisation of the gas industry?
In October 1982 Limerick Corporation, which was then Coalition governed, decided to accept a minority stake in the gas company in Limerick and for two and a half years nothing has happened. Does he also agree that, if we had local elections every month, there would be announcements that things would be done, but whether or not they would be done I do not know.
