With the unprecedented increases in global gas prices, Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly says the EU commission should show flexibility in this regard.
As this has placed strain on Irish households, the MEP says that the body should include aid rules for domestic energy production, due to lower income groups feeling the most pressure. The MEP, who is a member of member of the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee, states that the only solution is “to accelerate the deployment of renewables”.
As government has taken some welcomed measures to alleviate pressure on citizens in the interim, Kelly adds that we need to diversify our gas supplies for the short and medium term to ensure that we have energy security. Raising the importance of the Commission, the MEP says “the body needs to equip us with the tools to secure a home-grown, reliable energy supply in order to tackle rising energy costs.”
Meanwhile, Gas Networks Ireland says that demand for gas was down by 22% in January and 7% in February. Added to the figures was wind energy generation which was said to be at 53% of Ireland’s electricity last month, reported to be the highest contribution on record from the sector.