Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
13. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he has received formal correspondence or direction from the EU in relation to Ireland’s non-compliance with the N-1 directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13100/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCompliance with EU standards and obligations is an expectation on all Member States. Annex 2 (Securing Ireland’s Gas Supplies) of the Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 strategy sets out that the State is operating outside legal requirements set out in EU legislation. My Department engages with the European Commission in relation to our energy security obligations including with respect to our pathway to compliance with the N-1 infrastructure standard in the form of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve.
The Commission for the Regulation for Utilities (CRU), Ireland’s designated competent authority for security of supply, has highlighted Ireland’s non-compliance with the N-1 standard in the 2022 National Risk Assessment and 2023-2027 National Preventative Action Plan, both of which are submitted to the European Commission under Regulation 2017/1938.
The delivery of a temporary gas reserve is critical to Ireland’s energy security as we continue to transition to indigenous, clean renewable energy. Ireland’s National Risk Assessment highlighted an elevated risk to energy infrastructure and highlighted a disruption to gas interconnectors between Ireland and the UK. Emergency Exercise Cathal, in December 2024, further emphasised the unacceptable consequences to the gas and electricity (energy) system of a prolong gas outage.
Accordingly, the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve is a priority project of a strategic nature required to mitigate the major consequences for our society and our economy that would arise from the realisation of this risk.
