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TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said Ireland has contingency plans ready to implement if there are issues with supply of fuel in the coming months.
However, Varadkar said he doesn’t think the plans will need to be implemented.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the Tánaiste said: “We have contingency plans if it turns out that we end up with restrictions on supply of gas and petrol and diesel in the country. I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Varadkar said the main issue to date has been the price of fuel, not supply.
“In the last year or so we’ve been through a pandemic, we’ve been through Brexit, and we’ve been through a war on Ukraine by Russia. We actually have real problems with price stability. We haven’t had problems so much with supply, and we do have 90 days’ reserves.
“I don’t envision supply being a problem, but we do have contingency plans if that were to arise. And we have reserves and if the reserves run out, we have contingency plans as to who gets prioritised – and they do not have to be implemented but they’re ready if they have to be.”
Concerns have been raised over potential energy rationing being required in EU countries as some member states look to coal for additional power generation.
It comes as Russia has begun reducing supplies to both Germany and Italy as a response to sanctions issued by the EU following the invasion of Ukraine in February.
Energy rationing
EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness said the idea of energy rationing may “be a reality” due to the reduced supplies of gas entering both Germany and Italy, alongside Poland and Bulgaria who have had their gas completely cut off by Russia.
Speaking in Brussels yesterday, McGuinness, the Commissioner for financial services, warned that while the European Commission will try to avoid any kind of fuel and energy rationing, such measures may be necessary.
“The German Minister said we may need to look at energy rationing,” she said. “That could be a reality. It’s something we’ll try to avoid.”
McGuinness also said that the Commission is already taking measures to address energy insecurity within the EU, with measures like joint-purchasing of gas and securing sources of gas from other countries.
“We’re trying to tackle our energy insecurity by storage, by joint purchase, by making sure that we have connections elsewhere,” she said.
“The US are going to send more gas as we try to wean away [from Russian gas].”
Due to the reduced supply of Russian gas, countries like Germany, Austria and the Netherlands have opted to reduce restrictions on power plants that use coal.
With reporting by Tadgh McNally
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Best of luck to Joanna , always a pleasant & friendly personality on RTE & did brilliantly in that dancing show. Still, that’s an unusual phrase to accompany a resignation ‘ my leaving has nothing to do with my work product’. Best of luck in future endeavours & happy retirement.
@Mary Linton: she freaks me out with. Her reports, flouncing like she is some sort when she ain’t.
@Basildon Joe: There’s always one, Joe. And today, you are centre stage.
Richard Head.
@Mary Linton: Gin clear Blue skies for your future, Joanna. You always explained the weather as well as giving the forecast. Your 2 books are also fantastic
@Mary Linton: it had nothing to do with her
work product, just the content she was given to push….. she knew she was spouting bullshït to further an agenda that may have taken its toll, if so fair play to her for having the courage to walk away
@Jim: Was it the chemtrails, Jim? Womble
@Basildon Joe: Get out of it Joe.
Comes across as a lovely lady, best of luck with your next venture Joanna
Very unusual way to sign off. Best of luck to her.
Good luck Joanna with your new adventures always so pleasant
Sad to hear, but the best of luck Joanne.
Good luck. Enjoy the freer atmosphere.
@Michael Walsh: sad to see her go very good at her job
Going to miss Joanna and that gorgeous friendly smile on RTE Weather news,
Best of luck Joanna.Always enjoyed your forecasts even if they were for bad weather
Always liked her, comes across as a good person. Wishing her all the best in what she does next. Judging by comments elsewhere, she seems to trigger the Right, for some reason.
More power to her, change is good for you. Her first book was great for the kids. And it creates an opportunity for someone else to step up.
Wishing her the very best and she was it appears very down to earth. I hope what ever you do it’s fulfilling and exciting.
Best of luck. Yourself and Gerry were firm favourites in this household for presenting the weather. Wish you all the best
She was always good humored even when the forecast was bad. Her presence made it feel a bit better. Slang go fill.
@hans vos: Slan go foil .
Best wishes Joanna and may fair weather follow you always.
Best wishes to your next adventures, not everything is about being in the public eye. May you find calm spells with gusts of laughter reaching full force and then easing overnight.
Joanna I always enjoyed your forecast. We will miss you and very fresh approach. Good luck going forward.
Nobody will ever beat Jean Byrne !
Best wishes for the future Joanna,you will be missed you were a really good presenter X
Best Wishes to Joanna – I always enjoyed her forecasts and the way she communicated them
Always gave a detailed and enthusiastic forecast. Best of luck on your new venture.
Slan go foil. I always enjoyed her way of forecasting, trying to explain the bigger picture behind the weather. Best of luck Joanna!
I believe she suffers from insomnia I do know what it’s like A nightmare
Wishing her all the best in her new direction. She did a good job.
Bit of an innovator – Dancing With The Stars *before retirement. Still – enjoy.
Good luck in whatever you do a pleasure to watch and listen to
I recall one time when she hadn’t quite struck her pose correctly as the camera started rolling,ah bless her.
Maybe she has aspirations of becoming a real journalist instead of working with the goverment spokes persons in the rte news room
@Joe Doyle: she’s not a journalist, she’s a meteorologist
@Joe Doyle: I think you will find most of the investigative journalism that is done in Ireland is done by RTE- Tuam babies, Maurice McCabe, Stardust etc
@Joe Doyle: She worked for Met Eireann.
Absolute Pro, best of Luck Joanna for the future
She’s going to be the next pope!
@Padraig O’Brien: we’ll see what’s on the washing line next week
We interrupt your broadcast with urgent news. Joanna Donnelly has vanished from RTÉ—not retired, removed. Sources at Met Éireann confirm: a media coup led by VMN’s own Collette “Doom Merchant” Fitzpatrick. Donnelly’s accurate forecasts were too calm. Collette demanded chaos—firestorms, ice tsunamis, dramatic pauses. Instruments failed, weather maps glitched, and thermometers turned to lava lamps. Donnelly’s final forecast? Coded in wind and birdsong. They silenced her voice—but if you listen closely… she’s still broadcasting.
Quality forecaster & an always in great form too. Best of luck to her
Wonder was she in Tramore last week
Excellent p8
Does anyone really care??
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