Dáil debates amendment to restrict Strategic Gas Reserve to emergency use
Wednesday 1 July 2026
An amendment proposed in the Dáil seeks to legally restrict the operation of a future Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve to emergency use only, preventing its use for day-to-day energy management.
An amendment limiting Ireland's proposed Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve to emergency use only has been debated during committee stage in the Dáil.
During the committee and remaining stages of the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026, Deputy Pa Daly moved amendment No. 2, which proposes inserting a strict definition of "emergency use only" into the legislation.
Under the proposed text, "emergency use only" would be defined strictly by the N-1 infrastructure standard under EU Regulation 2017/1938. The amendment specifies that the Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve—including all future actions regarding its construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning—cannot be used to manage day-to-day energy demand.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle John McGuinness clarified that amendment No. 2 was grouped for discussion alongside amendments 3, 5, 9, and 18. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien was also present during the procedural clarifications regarding the progression of the bill's sections and amendments.