Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2026
213. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department has assessed Ireland’s strategic oil security arrangements, including the resilience of national oil reserves, supply routes and emergency fuel distribution capacity; if any such assessment identified risks to Ireland’s energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54473/26]
View answerThe war in the Middle East has had a significant impact on global oil markets, severely impacting supply.
My Department continues to proactively monitor supply in line with the Oil Emergency Response Plan (OERP). This plan provides the basis of Ireland’s response and provides me, as Minister, substantial legal powers to secure and protect supply if necessary.
The Plan and underpinning legislation and structures have been substantially enhanced and updated following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The OERP is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that it evolves with the changing geopolitical environment and reflects emerging risks to supply.
In terms of fuel availability more generally for essential sectors, the Oil Emergency Allocation Scheme provides for me, as Minister, to designate by order and/or directions, sectors, subsectors, and activities as constituting Critical Services.
Furthermore, my Department has convened the Oil Security of Supply Group which meets regularly and consists of relevant Government Departments and Agencies, in addition to Fuels for Ireland and oil companies. At the meeting of 2 July industry confirmed that they had secured supply into August and Ireland’s fuel supply chains remain robust and reliable.
The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) has operational responsibility for the day-to-day management of the State’s Strategic Oil Reserve. NORA’s oil is stored in various port locations throughout the island of Ireland, with the balance held in a small number of EU Member States. The locations at which NORA’s oil is stored are monitored under tight security in accordance with normal industry standards.
Following the release of stocks under the International Energy Agency Co-Ordinated action, NORA currently holds 80 days of oil stocks (80 days in the event of full disruption and therefore greater in the event of partial disruption).
