An Bord Pleanála says it's obliged to have regard to government policy when deciding on the planning application for Shannon LNG.
Ten-year planning permission is being sought to construct a liquified natural gas terminal in North Kerry.
In May, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan received approval for a moratorium on the development of LNG import terminals, pending the completion of a review of security of supply.
In August, Shannon LNG Ltd, a subsidiary of New Fortress Energy, lodged an application directly to An Bord Pleanála for a proposed LNG terminal on the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank.
An Bord Pleanála now says it's obliged to have regard to government policy.
However, policy that changes during the lifetime of consideration of a case will be updated so that the planning authority has regard to the most up-to-date version of the policy.
It says there can be some occasions when the authority might defer consideration of a live case if it is aware that a policy change is imminent; such occasions would be rare.
An Bord Pleanála says it will comply with its statutory obligations.
The closing date for submissions to An Bord Pleanála is October 22nd.
