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Latest News from our Press Releases

February 10th 2024: Time for Minister Ryan to call a halt to LNG plan in November's Outdated Energy Security Strategy

LNG plans outdated within a mere 2 months by Revelation that Corrib Gas fields are being extended, that Moffat Capacity is being increased by 42% and that Gas Networks Ireland is Eliminating all Single points of failure in the twinned gas interconnectors

February 5th 2024: Irish Environmental Network (IEN) got over €1 million for An Taisce's Shell to Sea Court Case Settlement

IEN got an average of €100,000 per meeting of the Environmental Law Implementation Group (ELIG) over 12 years

January 30th 2024: Irish Offshore reopens for gas exploration as New Inishkea Gas Field at Corrib approved by Irish Green Party Leader, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan - making a further mockery of his proposal for a US LNG fracked gas import terminal in Energy Security Strategy

November 14th 2023: Irish Green Party Leader, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan, officially signals his intention to make an LNG U-turn on the current government policy against LNG terminals and the importation of fracked gas into Ireland.
- It is amazing to see how a Green Party Minister for Energy can argue that the construction of new Large-scale LNG fossil fuel infrastructure can bring more energy security to Ireland. And what is worse is that the Irish householders will be expected to pay for it.

September 15th 2023: Delight as Shannon LNG is REFUSED planning permission to build its US fracked gas import terminal in Ireland due to Irish ban on fracked gas imports

- Claims that the flow of over €27 million by Shannon LNG into Irish state-controlled bodies during its planning process put huge and inappropriate pressure on Irish planning authorites
- Calls for the return of the site to public ownership after it was revealed that Shannon LNG controversially purchased the lands from the state-owned Shannon Group for €25 million during the planning process at a time when it was against government policy to permit any LNG terminals to be proceeded with.

July 30th 2023: Limerick City and County Council has confirmed that it has written to An Bord Pleanála to clarify the length of permission of the Shannon LNG pipeline 

Shannon LNG Pipeline Expiry Referred to An Bord Pleanála after it was discovered that Shannon LNG only applied for a 10-year planning permission in 2008.

June 15th 2023: Ombudsman decides that complaint on €2.4 million paid by Shannon LNG to Kerry County Council "would be a matter for An Garda Siochána on the basis that corruption itself is a crime".

April 16th 2023: 150 Groups write an Open Letter to Green Party Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan, on LNG U-turn.

November 29th 2022: More Carbon Budget threats to Irish Farming following revelation that the Shannon LNG Emissions would equal the Methane Emissions from 1 Million Beef Cattle
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With up to 10 times the emissions of pipeline gas, LNG would mean a higher proportion of the Carbon Budget Choice would be used for the fracked gas industry and that even more Irish cattle would have to be culled and food production reduced at a time of pending world food shortages to compensate.

November 28th 2022: IRREGULAR PAYMENTS of €4.1 million to Kerry County Council by Shannon LNG raise very serious ethical question
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County Development Plan compromised and tainted by payments which Fine Gael Councillor Jim Finucane says were "good faith contributions made by a company that was committed to the area"

October 18th 2022: Minister Simon Coveney War Ethics Complaint 

Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) considering formal complaint against Minister Simon Coveney for breaching Arcticle 28 of the Constitution in agreeing to participate in the War in Ukraine without the assent of Dáil Éireann

September 19th 2022: Death by a thousand cuts for Shannon LNG as Irish Government Energy Review prefers a state-owned gas storage facility and refuses to support Shannon LNG's US fracked gas import project  

July 19th 2022: Growing fears that Ireland will be told to artificially manufacture an economic crisis by the European Commission through premature rationing of gas

July 15th 2022: An Bord Pleanála orders clarifications after Shannon LNG admits that full life cycle ("Well-to-Tank") emissions of LNG are "2.5 times higher than those of the UK gas network" currently supplying gas to Ireland

June 15th 2022: Formal SIPO Ethics complaint lodged against Tánaiste Leo Varadkar for agreeing to meet developer and U.S. king of subprime lending, Wes Edens, whose company Shannon LNG is awaiting a planning decision and was accused of a €1 million bribe attempt in the Dáil

February 8th 2022: Northern Ireland set to Ban Fracking and all Onshore Petroleum Exploration.

February 5th 2022:  Irish Court of Appeal hears  that Shannon LNG has "voluntarily"  dropped its  4th PCI Status of "overriding public interest" in its new planning application for a fracked gas import terminal on the Shannon Estuary

October 26th 2021: 76 Irish Politicians join over One and a half Thousand people lodging submission against Shannon LNG at An Bord Pleanála

October 8th 2021: Shannon LNG - Official Petition Against Development Consent for US Fracked Gas Import Terminal in Ireland by New Fortress Energy - Have your say before October 22nd, 2021

October 2nd 2021: Why is the SDLP turning a blind eye to its Deputy Leader's conflict of interest controversy?

September 28th 2021: So, why is the Green Party Leader in Ireland - Environment Minister Eamon Ryan - actually defending Shannon LNG and the Fracking Industry in the Irish Courts?

September 1st 2021: Climate Treason by the Irish Green Party as Shannon LNG formally lodges new US fracked gas import terminal application

-Local Environmental campaigners on the Shannon Estuary feel completely deceived and betrayed by the Green Party who they now consider as fake environmentalists

July 30th 2021: Irish Green Party set to commit Environmental Treason as it refuses to implement the new Government policy against LNG terminals by deliberately allowing Shannon LNG lodge a new planning application within days for a fracked gas import terminal.

Minister Ryan is set to 'run down the clock' and not order An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the Shannon LNG fracked gas project. 

June 29th 2021: Serious issues of credibility after Minister Ryan wrongly advised by his Department that Shannon LNG planning application would be assessed by Section 34 of the Planning Act, when An Bord Pleanála ruled on June 2nd it must go through the fast-track planning section 37

June 25th 2021: Shannon LNG announces Delay in Lodging Planning Application, giving Green Minister for Energy Éamon Ryan time to order An Bord Pleanála to Stop Fracked Gas Terminal as per published government policy

June 22nd 2021: An Bord Pleanála completely ignores notification of Government policy against LNG terminals received one week before decision made to allow fast-track Shannon LNG application.

- No guidelines - only a notification - sent to An Bord Pleanála because the policy is "not a policy of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage".

A "notification" only obliges the planning authority to "have regard" to government policy, whereas "guidelines" would oblige the planning authority to "comply" with Government Policy.


June 10th 2021:  Revealed that ARUP wins Strategic Infrastructure Planning Status at An Bord Pleanála for the Shannon LNG fracked gas import project on the same day its employee of 5 years, Chairman Leddin of the Green Party, rules a fracked gas import ban out of order in the Climate Bill 

Chairman Leddin of the Green Party now seen as the fracked gas industry champion in Government. Minister Ryan also has questions to answer on how he moved in the Dáil on the same today to prevent a fracked gas import ban being amended to the Climate Bill


June 8th 2021:  Shannon Estuary Environmental Groups call for Chairman Leddin to step aside from the Climate Committee following his unbelievable clarifying statement this morning which claimed he didn't even become aware that his company ARUP was working on the Shannon LNG fracked gas import terminal until after he had left the company  



June 8th 2021:  Revelation that Irish Green Party Climate Chairman Brian Leddin is a former 5-year employee up to 2020 of new Shannon LNG fracked gas import terminal applicant is feared as the real reason he has ruled all amendments to the Climate Bill banning fracked gas imports out of order 


June 5th 2021:  Bewilderment as the Green Party blocks all amendments to the Climate Bill that would legally ban fracked gas imports 

May 24th 2021:  Human Rights Laws Require a Global Ban on Fracking, say Postgraduate Researchers at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway 


May 18th 2021:  Irish Government publishes Historic World's First Policy Statement against Fracked Gas Imports 
New Fracking Policy puts a duty on the Irish Government to now officially agree to propose a resolution at the United Nations calling for a global ban on fracking

April 14th 2021: Fears Policy Statement against Fracked Gas Imports is being delayed deliberately until after Shannon LNG reapplies for planning

March 30th 2021:  High Court Case Lost. Shannon LNG allowed to remain on the 4th PCI List because of  a loophole exempting the Irish Government from having regard to the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.

- Government must agree immediately to close this loophole in order to avoid the Climate Bill from falling into disrepute

March 24th 2021: Integrity and independence of DfE-sponsored Hatch Regeneris report into fracking in Northern Ireland called into question following revelations that Regeneris falsely claimed in its equivalent report for the Welsh Government in 2015 that ‘Public Health England’ and ‘Public Health Wales’ were of the view that fracking could be “mitigated to an acceptable level”.


March 20th 2021: Shock in Kerry as Shannon LNG owners New Fortress Energy announces  that it is to lodge a new planning application for a US fracked gas import terminal in Ireland.
- Government needs to react quickly with a climate bill that closes off fracked gas imports once and for all - 14 years of a battle is long enough.
- We now need the Green Party to make a Statement of Intent on the matter confirming that it will engage constructively on the Climate Bill Fracking import ban.



March 16th 2021: European Commission breaching EU Precautionary Principle in light-touch regulation proposal in EU Methane Strategy by turning a blind eye to adverse health, environmental and climate impacts of fracked gas methane super emitters

February 12th 2021: Irish Centre For Human Rights and NGOs issue Joint Statement calling on Government to implement Fracked Gas Import Ban in the Climate Bill following recommendation by Climate Committee

November 27th 2020: Ten Grounds for an immediate Northern Ireland Executive Decision on a Moratorium on Petroleum Licensing

November 12th 2020: Legal opinion adds momentum for world's first fracked gas import Ban in new Irish Climate Act

November 9th 2020: BREAKING NEWS - Shannon LNG has all permissions to build its fracked gas import terminal quashed in the Irish High Court after 13-year battle

- Conclusion of legal process opens window for an Irish ban on the importation of fracked gas as agreed in the Programme for Government. 


October 29th 2020: SDLP Minister Nichola Mallon still has conflict of interest questions to answer following unexplained removal of husband's name from Fracking Company Website.

- Proposed Removal by Minister Nichola Mallon of Permitted Development Rights (PDR) for gas exploration a  dangerous sleight of hand signalling to the Market that Northern Ireland is open for gas exploration through planning regulation of the petroleum and fracking industry before any gas exploration policy decision is made or any decision is taken on the current petroleum licensing applications by the Northern Ireland Executive.



October 26th 2020: SDLP Minister Nichola Mallon must answer perceived conflict of interest concerns behind new push for fracking in Northern Ireland following Mark H Durkan Comments that her husband "works for a pr company who have been commissioned by another company who have been commissioned by a completely different Department".

September 10th 2020: "An LNG Cloud is reasonably easily ignited" - the 1987 Nevada Desert Falcon Tests accident video revealed.

September 9th 2020: Shannon LNG set to lose planning permission for US fracked gas import terminal in Ireland following European Court of Justice ruling.

- Question to arise now is will the Irish Planning Authority have to refund the €30,000 application fee paid to it by Shannon LNG/New Fortress Eenrgy

June 22nd 2020: Taoiseach says Shannon LNG can build fracked gas import terminal "if they want to"

June 21st 2020: Answering the questions on Why we are happy with the Programme for Government on fracked gas imports and convinced that it is a game changer that gives us the means to stop Shannon LNG and Cork LNG.


June 15th  2020: Ireland set to become the first country in the world to ban the imporation of fracked gas.

June 11th 2020: Cork LNG and Shannon LNG Floating Import Terminals (FSRUs) will not qualify for Strategic Infrastructure Fast-Track Planning in Ireland.
- And Bord Pleanála has been hiding for over one year the fact that local councils and multiple state agencies must process proposed floating terminals, adding years to the planning-consent process since fast-track planning only allowed for onshore terminals, not offshore terminals.
- Loopholes must now be covered in any Programme for Goverment
- Updated to include Press Ombudsman's decision of October 2020 ruling that Irish Examiner article by Anne Lucey breached the principles of Truth, Accuracy and Distinguishing Fact and Comment.

April 25th  2020: Growing national consensus on LNG Energy Policy in Programme for Government.

April 19th  2020: Growing national consensus against Shannon LNG with the news that almost half of the newly-elected Irish parliamentarians have signed a pledge against US fracked gas import terminals in Ireland.

April 16th  2020: Energy Commissioner Simson tells Irish eNGO that PCI Regulation "gives an explicit  priority to energy policy over environmental policy".

February 13th  2020: Legal challenge allowed in Irish High Court against approval of 4th PCI List .

January 21st  2020: Energy Commissioner Simson reveals how 4th PCI List would circumvent EIB ban on gas infrastructure lending.

January 18th  2020: Appeal of European Commission Approval of 4th PCI List Lodged.

November 28nd  2019: European Ombudsman Rules on Complaint about PCI Approval been given by European Commission with No SEA.

November 2nd  2019: Evidence that Shannon LNG is for the Importation of Fracked US Gas.


October 22nd  2019: Green Party Leader Gives Taoiseach the Green Red Line Against US Fracked Gas Imports by Shannon LNG: "This is a Climate Issue of the First Order".

October 21st  2019: Mark Ruffalo warns Ireland and Shannon LNG they are killing Americans: "You are killing people and you are poisoning people and it's not going to be looked upon kindly".

October 17th  2019: European Commission says that Ireland can still remove Shannon LNG from draft Final 4th PCI List.


October 16th  2019: European Commission gives new deadline of 23rd October 2019  for Ireland to remove Shannon LNG from draft Final 4th PCI List.

October 14th  2019: Scientists prove that importing US Fracked Gas  into Ireland is a race to the bottom with a carbon-equivalent footprint 44% greater than coal.

October 12th  2019: Documents on 4th PCI List Approval by Irish Government released under AIE Regulations.

October 3rd  2019: Majority of Irish MEPs tell the EU Commission not to allow Fracked Gas into Ireland via the Projects of Common Interest Process.

October 3rd  2019: Secret Meeting to approve PCI projects in Brussels exposed through AIE Request raises alarm bells that Irish Government deliberately planned all discussion on Fracked Gas in the Irish Energy Mix to only take place after Special Status was already given.

September 9th  2019: Submission Raises Serious Questions over Irish Gas Projects on the PCI List.

February 15th 2019: Irish High Court delivers Killer blow to US Fracked Gas Imports by 'New Fortress Energy'.

November 15th 2018: M.E.P. Sean Kelly is asked to declare his position on Fracked Gas in the Irish Energy Mix following his attendance at Regional Gathering of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.

September 17th 2018: US Fracking Giant's attempts to flout Ireland's legal Boycott of Fracked Gas a game changer that puts the whole Shannon LNG project in doubt.



September 7th  2018:   Shannon LNG planning permission put on hold in Dublin High Court



March 14th  2018:  EU Parliament breaching its own SEA Directive by approving EU Energy Programme of Projects of Common Interest (PCI)   without any Environmental Assessment or consideration of reasonable alternatives..

- PCI Directive states that All Projects on the PCI list must be "allocated the status of highest national significance possible" and that "authorisation should be given to projects which have an adverse impact on the environment for reasons of overriding public interest"

- door opened for legal challenge

February 22nd 2018: Over One Thousand people object to Shannon LNG Extension of Planning.
23 Environmental Groups unite in common cause against Shannon LNG. 


February 12th 2018: Complaint against An Bord Pleanala for breach of planning laws in Shannon LNG decision.
Calls for suspension of Shannon LNG application to extend expiring planning permission until complaint is adjudicated on .


February 8th 2018: An Bord Pleanala, in a breach of trust, decides that extending the expiring planning permission for the proposed Shannon LNG terminal is a "Material Change" and then, 26 days later, changes its mind.

December 13th 2013: Senator Ned O'Sullivan attacks the Judiciary as he describes High Court judge's decision against Shannon LNG as "Appalling" .


December 11th 2013: High Court ruling against Shannon LNG Saves the Irish People One Billion Euros and highlights Cabinet Minister's attack on the Democratic process.
Decision entirely vindicates position of Shannon LNG opponents as the truth comes out in the end.



November 21st 2013:
High Court decision due but postponed.

March 13th 2013: Shannon LNG High Court case ends after 7 days - judgement reserved

January 28th 2013: EU fact-finding trip to proposed LNG site on the Shannon Estuary a major embarrassment for Irish planning authorities

July 10th 2012: Shannon LNG Project Officially Postponed

June 30th 2012: As Irish Energy Regulator delivers killer blow to Hess LNG/Shannon LNG project, Irish  politicians and officials are accused of misleading the general public on the hidden Shannon LNG subsidy loophole.

June 29th 2012:  The Commission for Energy Regulation publishes final decision paper on the Regulatory Treatment of the BGE interconnectors.

March 22nd 2012: 'Safety Before LNG' condemns illegal political interference with the independent energy regulator for the benefit of Shannon LNG as an attack on the democratic process.

March 13th 2012: Irish Regulator ruling on proposed gas interconnector tariff outlawing monopoly pricing and anti-competitive behaviour to cost Shannon LNG €1 billion over 13 years and seriously compromises the project according to Hess LNG CEO Gordon Shearer.

February 17th 2012: The Commission for Energy Regulatioin publishes proposed decision paper on the Regulatory Treatment of the BGE interconnectors

December 6th 2011:  Major criticism by Irish Minister for Energy of "windfall gain" to US Multinational 'HESS' a dramatic game-changer that could spell end of Shannon LNG project.

10th August 2011: ESB accuses Shannon LNG of "free-riding" on the services that the gas interconnector provides

July 1st  2011: The Commission for Energy Regulation publishes consulation paper on the Regulatory Treatment of the BGE interconnectors.

14th June 2011: Hess LNG publicly pulls out of Fall River LNG project at Massachusetts.

May 25th 2011:  Hess LNG threats to pull out of Irish Shannon LNG project dismissed as an anti-competitive charade to avoid €22.5 million annual levy at expense of Irish consumers; appeal of CER decision to the Competition Authority and EU on the cards.

May 21st 2011: Irish Cabinet Minister Jimmy Deenihan Threatens Irish Energy Regulator over Shannon LNG project.

Jan 4th 2011:
The Commission for Energy Regulation publishes first consulation paper on the Regulatory Treatment of the BGE interconnectors in relation to security of gas supply


19th August 2010: Endesa plans to convert former ESB station at Tarbert from fuel to gas put on hold by An Bord Pleanála and local T.D. criticised for encouraging anti-competitive behaviour by Shannon LNG

23rd April 2010: Foreshore Licence given without SEA proves double standards in Ireland and condemned as Legal Corruption and a breach of the Public Trust Doctrine.

21st April 2010: 'Safety Before LNG' uncovers plans by Bord Gais to build a second 26-kilometre gas pipeline to Tarbert independent of Shannon LNG.

20th April 2010: 'Safety Before LNG' says it has no choice but to break a local taboo and opppose the Endesa gas project until a Strategic Assessment is completed as requested by the EU Commission; says Endesa will become a hostage to Hess/Shannon LNG gas.


15th April 2010: 'Safety Before LNG' to appeal CER decision to grant Shannon LNG 25 years exemption from regulated third-party access to the European Commission claiming that 42% of its inital LNG supply going to 450 MW Endesa and 250 MW Shannon LNG power stations gives it pivitol supplier status. CER decision will make Endesa a hostage to Shannon LNG gas.

10th April 2010: EU Commission finds more than 10,000 people affected by Shannon LNG project and finds that Strategic Assessment is first required as per EU Directive

18th March 2010: FOI Revelation that Kerry Councillor earns over €100,000 in expenses over 5 years reignites rezoning controversy

8th March 2010: Shannon LNG Investment decision could drag on further than next year says Hess CEO Gordon Shearer

23rd February 2010  : Bord Gais CEO confirms Shannon LNG gas will be for export

10th December 2009: CER Refusal to Require LNG Marine Risk Assessment Condemned

12th May 2009: Energy Conference in Tarbert discusses alternatives to Shannon LNG project

28th March 2009:  Letter to the Farmer's Journal printed on March 28th 2009 -
                               Shannon LNG   A dirty money-making project

10th March 2009: Massive SemEuro Petroleum Storage Facility in Tarbert put on hold

3rd March 2009: Deputy told that LNG is a fossil fuel


October 17th 2008: Kilcolgan Residents Association / Safety Before LNG formally request CER to consider media reports of an internal CER Memo stating that gas prices would rise by about 15% once Shannon LNG started production.

August 24th 2008: Maeve Sheehan of the Irish Independent reports on an internal memo from the Independent Energy Regulator circulated in July 2008 attributing rising cost of gas to declining use of the interconnector.



LICENSING PROCESS



Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) Licence - application not yet submitted (as of December 2nd 2011)

Foreshore Licence to construct marine part of Shannon LNG Terminal - 23 April 2010

Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) Processing of Shannon LNG Request for Exemption from Regulated Third Party Access - 15th April 2009

Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) Licence for Shannon LNG Pipeline - December 9th 2009

Planning Permission for Road Widening from Tarbert to proposed LNG Site and Compulsory Acquisition of adjoining Land - 2nd November 2009

Section 5 Referral to An Bord Pleanála on the legality of 'Project Splitting' - 17th February 2009

Planning Permission for the LNG Pipeline and Compulsory Acquistion  of Adjoining Land- February 17th 2009

Bord Pleanála Planning Decision on SemEuro petroleum storage installation adjacent to proposed LNG terminal. Pre-application consultation. Withdrawn December 19th 2008
 
Bord Pleanála Planning Decision that 26-kilometre Shannon LNG Pipeline from Tarbert to Foynes qualifies as a development to be considered under the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006- July 22nd  2008

Planning Permission for the LNG Terminal - decision made March 13th 2008

Bord Pleanála Planning Decision that Shannon LNG Terminal qualifies as a development to be considered under the Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006- September 7th 2007