Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My final question relates to royalties. Concern has been expressed that, under the terms of the licence given to Shell, when the gas finally starts flowing this year hopefully, the Government will have to pay a premium market price for the gas and has no preferential treatment. Mr. Breslin can correct me if I am incorrect. Is there anything that gives the Government preferential treatment when minerals are extracted and commercially sold to the benefit of the country? Is preferential treatment built into the Bill? There is a view that questions why we should pay the market price for our own asset.