Bord Gáis Energy Ltd

Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Oonagh Buckley (Secretary General), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; John Shaw (Assistant Secretary), Department of the Taoiseach; Aine Doyle (Special Adviser), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Intent: Update Government stakeholders on Bord Gáis Energy's infrastructure projects and discuss policy and regulatory measures that could support timely delivery of energy infrastructure

Methods: Event / ReceptionMeetingEmailPhone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Aine Doyle (Special Adviser), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection; Craig Dwyer (Special Advisor), Department of Social Protection; Timmy Dooley (Minister of State), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Oonagh Buckley (Secretary General), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; John McKeon (Secretary General), Department of Social Protection; Joanne Lonergan (Programme Manager - Tánaiste), Department of the Taoiseach; Deirdre Gillane (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: Proposals to reform targeted and temporary measures to support energy affordability and continued engagement with Government stakeholders on customer protection.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Intent: To share information on the effectiveness of existing sustainable energy schemes and seek Government support for continuation and enhancement of sustainable energy grant schemes.

Methods: Event / Reception

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Aine Doyle (Special Adviser), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Shane Smyth (Adviser to Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Stephen Kinsella (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Kieran McQuinn (Special Advisor to the Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: To secure support in principle for geological energy storage as part of Ireland’s energy system; to advance consideration of the policy, regulatory and market frameworks required to enable the Kestrel project; and to support recognition of the project’s role in strengthening energy security, economic resilience and the transition to green hydrogen and net zero.

Methods: Phone callEmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Timmy Dooley (Minister of State), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Oonagh Buckley (Secretary General), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Matt Collins (Assistant Secretary), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Paul Bolger (Assistant Secretary), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Aine Doyle (Special Adviser), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Tom Tynan (Adviser to Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Kieran McQuinn (Special Advisor to the Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP), European Parliament; Ciaran Mullooly (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Andrews (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Michael McNamara (MEP), European Parliament

Intent: The aim is to build awareness and secure support in principle for Kestrel as part of Ireland’s energy security and Net Zero transition. Kestrel supports Ireland’s energy security by reusing the Ballycotton gas field for large-scale gas storage, helping establish a strategic gas emergency reserve. Over time,it can transition to storing biomethane and green hydrogen from renewable sources.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin McNamara (Councillor), Galway County Council; Tomás Grealish (Councillor), Galway County Council; Peter Feeney (Councillor), Galway County Council; Louis O'Hara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Emails to local representatives to update on timelines for preparation and submission of SID applications for the Cashla Peaker Plant and associated grid route to An Commissiún Pleanála.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Intent: To update in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of war in the Middle East on Bord Gáis Energy's use of hedging strategies to shield customers form energy price volatility, share information on consumer protection measures and supports and our willingness to continue to engage on these matters, particularly in the context of war in the Middle East.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Shane Smyth (Adviser to Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Sam Griffin (Adviser to Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform

Intent: Information sharing regarding a Bord Gáis Energy project as a case study for the implementation of certain actions outlined in the National Infrastructure Action Plan.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Aine Doyle (Special Adviser), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Deirdre Gillane (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Diarmuid Lynch (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Sarah Bardon (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Stephen Kinsella (Special Adviser), Department of the Taoiseach; Kieran McQuinn (Special Advisor to the Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Shane Smyth (Adviser to Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Pat McParland (Deputy Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: To brief with an information note on the Kestrel Energy Storage Project which can support the Government’s current focus on Ireland’s energy security through the establishment of a national strategic gas emergency reserve while also enabling longer-term secure decarbonisation goals. Kestrel will progress the re-use Ballycotton gas field to store large-scale natural gas and then enable a long-term transition to store bio-methane and/or green hydrogen produced by our renewable energy sources.::Objective is to build awareness and secure support in principle for Kestrel as part of Ireland’s energy security and Net Zero transition. We aim to ensure alignment of the project with government policy, including the forthcoming Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Aine Doyle (Special Adviser), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Intent: To build understanding of BGE's support fund, customer communications, and engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities

Methods: MeetingLetter