182. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the environmental impact assessments that are planned for the development of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit; and the impact the disapplication of the Habitats Directive by the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Act 2026 has on the required environmental impact assessments. [75118/26]

In March 2025, I received Government approval to develop a State-led strategic gas emergency reserve. The delivery of a strategic gas reserve is critical to Ireland's energy security as we transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Crucially, the strategic gas emergency reserve will also ensure compliance with EU standards and regulations.

The State-led, transitional nature of the reserve ensures that the risk of stranded fossil fuel assets is reduced, that the reserve will be used for emergency use only, and that it does not support increased gas demand with a view to minimising impacts on greenhouse gas emissions.

The Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Act 2026 requires an application for development consent to be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment under bespoke processes set out within the Act.

Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Act outlines the Appropriate Assessment process that will apply to an application for designated development, in accordance with the requirements of the Habitats Directive.

Chapter 3 of Part 4 of the Act outlines the Environmental Impact Assessment process that will apply to an application for designated development, in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.

The purpose of the legislation is to provide for an expedited planning consenting pathway to allow the next stage of delivery of the strategic gas emergency reserve project, which is critical to Ireland’s energy security during Ireland's transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy.