Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Energy and Natural Resources
Period
1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025
Specific Details
Email sent to Special Advisors to Ministers regarding Kestrel Energy Storage project at Ballycotton, Kinsale.
Intended results
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.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Paul Cullen, Project Director, Kestrel Energy Storage DAC
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Email (1)
Email sent to Special Advisors to Ministers regarding Kestrel Energy Storage project at Ballycotton, Kinsale.
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
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)