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LAST UPDATE | 12 Feb 2020
FINE GAEL MEP Maria Walsh has defied her party colleagues in the European Parliament today and supported a motion to veto a number of energy projects, including the controversial Shannon LNG terminal in Co Kerry.
The parliament voted on a motion to veto the list because it contains 55 fossil fuel projects.
In total, 443 voted down the motion, with 169 MEPs voting in favour of the veto.
The motion had been tabled by 100 MEPs, including Irish MEPs Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, the Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan and Ciaran Cuffe , Luke Ming Flanagan and Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy.
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, Walsh said:
“I am opposed to fracking and like many other people was pleased when the process was outlawed by the Fine Gael Government in 2017.
“As yet, the long term consequences of fracking are unknown but most likely it is significantly damaging to our planet and to people’s health.
“There are many reasons why fracking is bad for the environment and public health ranging from the contamination of drinking water to the use of highly toxic and carcinogenic products in the process,” she said.
In relation to public health, she said she was alarmed to read the documented negative health impacts, particularly those on pregnancy and birth outcomes.
The impact it has on our environment means its use is something I cannot condone.
I want to thank everyone who made contact with my office to voice their concerns.
I will continue to listen to my constituents and my own conscience on all issues voted on in the European Parliament.In the midst of a Climate Emergency, I firmly believe we need to be looking through all issues with an environmental lens.
I believe we need to invest in sustainable renewable energy, not fossil fuels.
Despite Walsh voting in favour of the motion rejecting the projects, her Fine Gael colleague in the parliament, Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly defended his support for the list of priority projects across the EU.
As well as Shannon LNG, there are three other Irish projects on this list, which he said are important.
“There are 150 projects across Europe, there are four or five in Ireland – Shannon is one of them, the hyrdropower one in Tipperary, the interconnecter with France and also the interconnecters with the United Kingdom.
“So if you were to reject one, you reject them all and that makes no sense whatsoever. ”
TheJournal.ie was informed by the party that the party’s position is outlined above by MEP Kelly.
It is understood that MEP Mairead McGuinness did not vote today as she was chairing plenary votes at the time.
Opposition parties, Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo, and Extinction Rebellion activists are among those who have demanded that the government should drop its support for the Shannon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal plan because of its proposed use of fracked gas.
The last government insisted that Ireland needs energy security in future, and that the proposed LNG terminal could be part of the answer to that.
The gas terminal was included on a list of EU ‘Projects of Common Interest’, which allows it to gain access to funding and a fast-track planning process.
If it’s constructed, it is proposed that the project will form part of an EU gas interconnector scheme from running north-south from Scotland to Malta.
Speaking to EuroParl Radio, Grace O’Sullivan, MEP for Ireland South, said:
Just last year or in the last two years Ireland banned fracked gas being taken in Ireland and there was a real jubilation there and Fine Gael really strongly, they brought that legislation to the Dáil and to the Seanad and there was really great excitement that it passed.
“To then turn around and actually allow the fracked gas come in through the back door, as I call it, into Shannon is definitely the wrong way.”
Grace O'Sullivan MEP / Twitter
Grace O'Sullivan MEP / Twitter / Twitter
O’Sullvan said it is important that the European Parliament prioritises renewable projects and that “public money is spent in those areas and not going down a regressive path”.
What is Shannon LNG?
The Shannon LNG is designed to be a natural gas terminal.
The terminal, which is being proposed by US company New Fortress Energy, would be constructed in Ballylongford, Co Kerry, and would be the first of its kind in Ireland.
LNG terminals work by importing natural gas in a liquefied state at an extremely low temperature – making it easier to transport – and then turning it back into gas for use in a new market.
An Bord Pleanála granted permission for the project in 2008, but that has since expired. However, developers are currently considering lodging a new application.
In a statement, Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher said in order to receive European funds, the projects on the list will have to support the European Union’s ambitions under the Green deal.
“Quite rightly, there was significant concern expressed by many in Ireland about the sustainability of some projects but with this announcement, we can be confident that all projects will now comply with the ambition of the European Green Deal,” he said.
“Ireland needs energy security. As an island nation, we cannot just hope for the best. We need a diverse and secure energy supply and many of the projects on the PCI list are essential to meeting that goal.”
Kelleher’s statement did not make specific reference to the Shannon LNG proposal.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment said “gas will continue to play a crucial part in the transition to a low carbon society – both at a European level and also here in Ireland as we move from 30% to 70% renewable electricity as part of the Climate Action Plan”.
In the context of concerns raised about the project, Minister Richard Bruton intends to ask the European Commission to review the relevant evidence on LNG in the context of adopting more ambitious climate targets. A review on the security of supply will investigate what fossil fuels are required, and how they are sourced, during the transition to a low carbon economy, added the department.
With additional reporting by Christina Finn
Fair play to the company in acting so fast on this, rare to see a company solve something so quickly that actually benefits others rather than themselves
@Pixie McMullen: I agree.well done to the company.mind you even with this people above me are calling it a publicity stunt….#irishneverhappy.
@Pixie McMullen: Pity about the people losing their jobs / hours because of this antisocial behaviour.
@Pixie McMullen: if only Ireland could respond with such a swift attitude regarding policy’s
@Pixie McMullen: Congratulations Pixie, never seen 1500 thumbs up to a comment before.
They had no choice but to close it at 11.30
Nobody said anyone lost jobs .
@Aaron McKenna: no one lost there job?? Everyone was just given a different shift pattern
This will lead to illegal sugar pushers hanging outside the apartments dealing inferior donut products
@Neil Reilly: hahaha
Ive a couple of Tesco custard donuts if you want….
@Carl: Sounds nice. I’m trying to get cheese and onion doughnuts, but Tesco apparently won’t sell them here in Ireland.
@Carl: pushers out !!
@Neil Reilly: best comment I’ve seen on the journal for a while!
Fair play to them. I imagine the plan was to always scale back as a 24hr place was probably not sustainable once the initial excitement wore off, but good to see them taking action. But honestly, people queuing at 3am beeping and causing hassle over donuts? Cop on!
@Carl: after seeing people queuing in the middle of the night to buy an iPhone, now we have people doing the same to buy a doughnut. First world problem I guess.
@Carl: They have staff working through the night anyway so I guess they will give it a few weeks/months and when the frenzy dies down I’m sure they will give it a go again just like around the corned do.
Sometimes I wake in the night wanting certain things, a drink of water, a pee, but a doughnut? Who in their right mind would go queue for donuts in the middle of the night? Money and sense comes to mind!
@Malcolm Smith: Not everybody is a daywalker my dude
@Malcolm Smith: HOMER!!
@Malcolm Smith: pregnant wives and girlfriends?!
@Malcolm Smith: amazingly enough, some of us are either working or headed to work in the middle of the night. How are the guards supposed to live up to a stereotype if they can’t get coffee and donuts at 3am??
@Malcolm Smith: When your life revolves around claiming your dole and being an antisocial welfare sponge normal hours and a routine don’t really matter!
Have I gone mad?? These are doughnuts, as in, batter and sugar? Is there cocaine in them?… I mean cinnamon
@BarronVonVaderHam: only the fluffiest crunchy outer shell heavenly melt in your mouth doughnuts that you can never satisfy a craving for no matter how many doughnuts you try to eat.
@BarronVonVaderHam: cocaine? What cocaine in these? Nah man that’s, uh, raisins.
@Shane Buckley: Offbeat are better. Krispy Kreme are 8/10 at best.
@JDel: Do they have a drive thru?
@Shane Buckley: You just reminded me of the Hary Enfield sketch regarding Dime bar ad.
@successisurs: lol
@BarronVonVaderHam: If there was id be queuing mad hours as well.
I think the reason why people queued was not because of the doughnuts but because of the queue, Irish people love a good queue, you could be walking by a shop and there’s a queue reaching all around the corner, you don’t know what it’s for but you somehow drift into the queue.
@Lisa Byrne: like that scene in the commitments.
“What instrument do ya play?”
“Instrument? I seen the que and thought you were selling drugs!”
@Lisa Byrne: they’re known as the noisy doughnutters!!!!!!
How embarrassed would you be for anybody who queued for doughnuts?
@Derek Walsh Ⓥ: be morto like!
When the munchies hit.. God bless blanch
Have these people no home to go to. Up all night for a doughnut for God’sSake.
@Aine O Connor: I’d say most certainly have no job to go to? I’m in bed have to be up at 6-30!
@Dougal67: Or finished their job at 2 am?
@Dougal67: not everyone works Monday to Friday 9-5:30
@Dougal67: not everyone works Monday to Friday 9-5:30
@Dougal67: not everyone works Monday to Friday 9-5:30
@Dougal67: @Dougal67: not everyone works Monday to Friday 9-5:30
@Mark Daniel©: heard u the first time?? I said most ie 51% I know there’s some people on night shift but that many every night????????? I guarantee you most are on the dole
@Dougal67: Nobody gives a crap what you guarantee because your guarantee’s mean sweet f all. 7.1/10
@Mark McDermott: Mark u have anger issues buddy go grab a donut ?
Don’t get this culture in Ireland where you can get fast food at all hours of the day; including weekends and bank holidays, but banks & pharmacies which are vital to people have extremely limited open hours. All wrong
@Ross Fehily: everything should be 24/7 in the age of information, imagine what the economy would be like if this was the case.
Publicity Stunt
@Ronan Smith: definitely. It created hype AND made them look good for being considerate to residents in the end!
@Claire Ela: I do think so. A complete stunt. I think these people were paid to go and do what they did, and may be on donuts!
This could have been a great success. The thing is its our own down fall. What kind of person queues in the middle of the night for a donut. These people are the ones making all the noise that got it shut down. Complete disrespect.
@Allison Smith: People who are high, if it was beside my house and I was high id probably be tempted to go over. Just skin up a few spliffs for the wait and your sorted.
The problem isnt krispy kreme or it being 24 hours, its a limited bunch of w**kers who are being antisocial in blanchardstown instead of their usual hangouts. proper community policing would have dealt with this, instead the garda just left it for a handful of security guys. I was there at 10 last night and the non-drive through queue was 10 mins and there was no trouble. punish the troublemakers, not the rest of us!
Another example of why we cannot have nice things in Ireland.. we ruin it for ourselves.
@Anthony Clark: I’m moving to Vegas, this backwards country is slow.
@Shane Buckley: Do you need help packing your bags?
@Slim Shady: are you looking for a job?
@Shane Buckley: Depends on how you’re going to pay me. Not if it’s with doughnuts.
@Slim Shady: I’ll buy you a happy meal
@Shane Buckley: Ill take the happy meal if he doesn’t want it.
@Shane Buckley: You’re on :)
So what happens now when the sweats & shivers start to kick in at 2am. You done this to me Krispy Kreme…… WTF man. … You cant do this.
@The Viking: Eat a pomegranate. There’s 39g of sugar in one.
@Slim Shady: there is only 10g of sugar in a krispy kreme original glazed donut.
Its not about the suger.
@Shane Buckley: what is it about then, the cult of branding?
Geez all the donut addicts will have major Instagram and donut withdrawal symptoms by 6am. We’ll need the riot police there in the morning to keep civil order.
Why were the rules of the road not enforced by the Gardai? Why does the company need to adjust their model for people who should have been fined and/or given penalty points? Craze for doughnuts aside – it’s seems very wrong not a single person breaking the LAWS we have were not punished.
@Richard: Someone was saying its because its classed as a car park but I can’t believe that the Garda have their hands tied and can’t do anything about all the noise. Surely a breach of the peace.
Is it houses or donuts they are selling
@Marcus o Dhonnghaile: its doughnuts ye spoon.
@BarronVonVaderHam: I would live in a donut if it was big enough
Are the Irish not fat enough FFS?
@Gerry Lamont: clearly not
The queues etc would have died off after a while as the novelty factor wore off. I was in Edinburgh the weekend Krispy Kreme opened there much to my bemusement my hotel was right next to it. There was a queue outside it the entire time, both for drive through and walk-up.
Great news for the neighbours I just hope no one is losing their jobs though.
@NickyVera: Fully agree, no residents anywhere should have to endure that disturbance.
@NickyVera: of course people will lose their jobs or at least have a massive reduction in hours. They are closing for an entire shift due to a bunch of morans.
@Karen NíDhochartaigh: The irony of misspelling morons :’)
Are they even that good ???
@Mike Johnston: Let’s find out!
@Mike Johnston: I bought some for the family. They are nice but absolute sugar bombs. One is plenty.
Beeeeeeep! Beeeeep!
So you could say that all the late night drivers cuing up and beeping their horns just blew it…. I will let myself out.
Fair play to them. Will get alot of goodwill for this step.
Someone in the office just came back with a box of them. I’ve had 2 now. They are grand and all but I wouldn’t queue for them. Or purchase them myself for that matter.
@Reuben Gray: Then you got the wrong ones
DOWN WITH THAT SORT OF THING
Will ya have a doughnut Father? There’s cocaine in em…
It’ll be a cold day in hell before I eat anything from a place with Krispy Kreme in the title. It sounds like a euphemism and not a pleasant one either #matureporn
@Roy O’Rourke: *Sometimes I like to wear womens panties and walk down 5th street*
Good. The likes of this is what has Americans in the obese mess they’re in. Nobody needs a 24 hour doughnut shop. You work night shifts? Wait until your day off. Nobody ever died from a doughnut deficiency, so your need for one can wait. Overweight has become the new normal and obesity, the new overweight. We’ve normalised the unhealthy and berate those who choose to take care of their bodies (eg Sadiq Khan removing the ‘bikini body’ posters in London). I can’t understand anybody who would actually *choose* to queue for hours to buy a doughnut that will still be there in a month/6 months time. Bloody hell.
I drove me bus phicsy last night just to get me hands on a few of these, caught rapid I was, raggin’
Talk about a quick response, if only other things happened as quick in this country.
Queing up for frozen doughnuts that have to thaw first
That’s some good, cheap marketing over the last couple of days…
People eh…
Tried them the other day – they were indeed nice – didn’t need queue as if you just want a fixed selection box of donuts you were allowed to skip direct to counter.
Demand is obviously highly wont be long until we’re an obese nation like the Americans. Shop local, can’t be an owl homemade irish scone!
No no leave it open it natural selection happening right in front of us
That’s the Garda going hungry through the night again now.
Demand is obviously very high. Won’t be long until more outlets open which satisfy the fat fools who would rather spend there money on American chains than shop locally! Can’t bate the owl homemade irish scone!
It’s a business and money will have been the overriding factor, drive throughs are not built for the local community but for those further afield. They’ll have looked at the data from sales beyond midnight and figured out that financially it wasn’t worth opening beyond midnight (except Fri/Sat nights possibly). But saying that it’s for the benefit of locals is great PR….
How long does it take to hand a box of donuts out the window?!? Shouldn’t take that long to cause a massive queue to form!
O think the government should step in a make sure Krispy Kreme is open 24/7
I’d eat a doughnut now….
Feckin’ sheep!
Now perhaps Krispy Kreme might build a cinder running track so people can run off all the extra calories after stuffing themselves with donuts!
Are we entitled to free donuts?
have your say