Liquid Gas Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Liquid Gas Ireland

Date published 21 Jan, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details Climate Action Plan 2021- 2030 and Energy Taxation Directive. ILPGA expressed its serious concern about proposals to revise the EU Energy Taxation Directive which could necessitate a change of domestic policy in relation to VAT on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders. cylinder LPG is a vital commodity for homeowners and businesses not connected to the natural gas network. Any changes to existing VAT rates would further increase rural energy costs and worsen the urban/rural divide.

Intended results Recognition for LPG and Bio LPG as a renewable low emmisssion cleaner fuel for heating and transport ILPGA is calling on EU and Irish instutions to appose measures which would necessitate a change of domestic policy in relation to VAT on LPG cylinders , which would have a negative impact on Irish consumers and GHG emmission levels

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paul O Connell Chairperson Irish LP Gas Association ( along with Filipa Rio from Liquid Gas Europe)

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.

Meeting (1)

Paul O Connell ILPGA Chairperson and Filipa Rio (Liquid Gas Europe) attended a meeting at the European Parliament on the 20th November with Ciaran Cuffe MEP and Tara Connolly adviser to Grace O Sullivan MEP on National Energy and Climate plan 2021- 2030· We are calling on the Irish Government and EU Policy Makers to set out clear decarbonisation policies that take account of the unique needs of rural communities and businesses in the development of Energy and Climate Policy While the key drivers of Ireland’s overall emissions are transport and agriculture, heating remains a challenge. Domestic heating accounts for approximately 9% of Ireland’s carbon emissions. Ireland’s domestic heating is still substantially delivered by heavy emitting fossil fuels, home heating oil, coal and peat. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and BioLPG can play a key role in Ireland’s energy transition by providing off-grid communities and businesses with an alternative to carbon-intensive fuels. ·

Meeting (1)

Paul O Connell ILPGA Chairperson and Filipa Rio (Liquid Gas Europe) attended a meeting at the European Parliament on the 20th November with Ciaran Cuffe MEP and Tara Connolly adviser to Grace O Sullivan MEP on Energy Taxation Directive. ILPGA is calling on EU and Irish institutions to oppose measures which would necessitate a change of domestic policy in relation to VAT on LPG cylinders, which would have a negative impact on Irish consumers and GHG emmission levels

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.

Ciarán Cuffe MEP (European Parliament)

Grace O'Sullivan MEP (European Parliament)