Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the statement of Minister Pat Rabbitte that he is continuing to engage with the promoters of the LNG project in Ballylongford. Pat Rabbitte was responding to questions from Patrick O’Donovan at the Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee where the issue of Ireland’s future energy needs were being discussed.
The Limerick TD told the Committee that the LNG project had the potential to transform the economy of the entire Mid West region and he likened it to the impact that the Aughinish project had in the area back in the 1980’s. In replying to Patrick O’Donovan, the Minister agreed with his views in terms of the regional impact and he told the Committee that Ireland had to look at broadening the country’s energy base and drew attention to the current difficulties in Eastern Europe and its potential impact on Ireland’s recovery.
Also at the same meeting Patrick O’Donovan raised the issue of energy crops. He said that there needed to be clear protocols between the Departments of Agriculture and Energy in relation to deriving energy from biomass. He said that he had encountered major difficulties in the recent past where it was clear that there was a lack of overall national policy in the area and this was leading to uncertainty amongst members of the farming community in particular.
In reply Pat Rabbitte acknowledged that Patrick O’Donovan had been raising the need for a joined-up position on biomass for some time and he confirmed for the committee that the Government will be bringing forward a national policy on energy crops in the coming weeks.
Speaking after the meeting Patrick O’Donovan welcomed the confirmation of the Minister’s commitment to the bio-energy crop sector as he said that the potential for the industry into the future could be of significant benefit to rural counties like Limerick.